A lawmaker wants government officials that authorised the release of the ship that docked at Mombasa Port with radioactive material punished.
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir wants the officials held responsible, saying the decision to release the ship without sanctioning penalties on the shipper contravened the law.
“Why did they let the ship just go? Why was no action taken? Why were the ship owners not taken action against?” the MP asked.
The MP says he’ll push for the Nuclear Regulatory Authority officials to be summoned in the House to explain why the vessel was released without the owners being fined.
The Nuclear Regulatory Act provides for five-year imprisonment for anyone who illegally transports or permits the transportation of any nuclear material.
It states that a person shall not undertake the design of any packaging or package, operates or maintain any packaging or package, or transport, or cause or permit to be transported in any packaging or package, any nuclear material or radiation source.
Such transportation has to be done in accordance with the provisions of the nuclear law – among them the requirement for a shipper to declare that material transported is radioactive.
A person who contravenes the provisions commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding Sh5 million or five years imprisonment or both.
“When Parliament resumes next year, Nuclear Regulatory body will have to tell us why they failed to take necessary action,” Nassir said.
The lawmaker questioned how padlocks, which were stated as the items in the ship said to be from India, could emit such a high level of radiation.
“I am just wondering how padlocks could have such high nuclear radiation,” he added, saying they would not allow the residents of Coast to be harmed by such unscrupulous shippers.
Ministry of Health officials on Sunday cleared the ship that had been held at the port over the claimed high radiation levels.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Monday stated that the Danish-flagged ship sailed away on Sunday after all the crew and port staff were tested for radiation.
KPA Head of Corporate Affairs Bernard Osero said, “The 24 ship crew members and KPA staff who handled the container at the yard were subjected to tests and were found to be fit. They were also stable and cheerful.”
“The crew members left on board the ship and will be subjected to further test on arrival at the next port of call,” he added.
MV Seago Pireaus, a container carrier, arrived on December 13 from the port of Salalah in Oman. Authorities said it departed to an East African country.