The ambitious plan to set up a nuclear power plant in the coastal region of Kilifi, Kenya has hit a snag as civil society groups, local leaders and community leaders have come out strongly to oppose such a move. They term such a development hazardous and dangerous to the communities living near the proposed site and say that several tourist sites would be affected by such a move. The 165-mile (265-kilometer) coastal region is lined with hotels and beach bars; fishermen provide fresh seafood to the area’s eateries; and tourists spend their days boating, snorkeling around coral reefs, or bird watching in deep mangrove forests.
Kenya, just like most developing economies, is seeking to construct a nuclear power plant that would generate 1000 MW of power as it seeks to ramp up its efforts to be industrialized and become a upper middle income nation by 2030. The nuclear power plant, if accomplished, will play a crucial role in increasing the country’s supply of electricity and lowering its reliance on unclean thermal energy. The main driving force is the anticipated rise in the demand for power as the economy grows and expands.
As of May 2024, the largest source of power generated in the national grid was geothermal energy, with 45.21 percent; hydro, wind, and solar followed with 21.05, 16.08, and 3.92 percent, respectively.
Opponents of the plan cite environmental disaster as the main factor in opposing the plant. “Poverty has pushed Kilifi County residents to terrorism extremism, nuclear power plant in Kilifi will aggravate the problem. Ksh. 500 billion that is intended to putting up a nuclear power plant in Uyombo village, should be invested in making the lives of Kilifi County residents better.” said Boniface Mwangi, Land and Environment Defenders Activists representative.
Radioactive waste which is produced by nuclear power plants can remain radioactive for long periods of time and therefore pose a danger to the public if not stored well. Developed economies like Japan and Ukraine have had disasters affecting their nuclear power plants that have led to entire areas being cordoned off due to the toxic radioactive waste that got leaked.
Apart from being used for civilian purposes, nuclear energy can be harnessed through a process called nuclear fission reactions to produce energy that can set off explosives. A nuclear device, similar in size to a conventional bomb, can destroy an entire city through blast, fire, and radiation. As weapons of mass destruction, the spread of nuclear weapons is a key issue in international relations policy.
Kenya is not alone in having nuclear ambitions in Africa. Uganda, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Egypt and Nigeria are also in the race to build their own nuclear power plants. Despite recent improvements, energy access in sub-Saharan Africa remains critically low. Over 50% of the population still lacks electricity, as reported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). South Africa remains the sole African nation generating nuclear power commercially, more countries on the continent are following suit.
The prospect of cheap power has made many developed economies opt to use the energy source to meet their electricity demands. Nuclear energy enabled Finland to reduce electric costs by 75%. While developed economies may have the necessary skills and manpower required to correctly utilize nuclear energy, the situation may not be the same in developing economies which are faced with brain drain. Therefore, a slight mistake or catastrophe may be deadly and costly.
The cost of the power plant is also a major contention. Activists contend that the money used to construct the power plant can be used elsewhere. Kenya is planning to spend Ksh 500B ($5B) to build its first nuclear power plant. Most new nuclear power plants are primarily being constructed in countries with lower infrastructure costs. According to the World Nuclear Association, the overnight cost of building a new plant in China is $2500 per kilowatt-electric (kWe), while in the U.S. it is $6041 per kWe. This price disparity is a significant factor in why nuclear power is less favored in the developing world.
Time is also a major factor. Nuclear power takes several years to deploy, with a typical plant requiring around five years to construct. However, regulatory and financial obstacles can cause delays in these projects which further extend their timelines. In the case of Kenya, The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Nupea) plans to commission its first research reactor between 2030 and 2034, with construction expected to start in late 2026. The agency also aims to fully begin building the nuclear power plant in 2027 and have it operational by 2034. Currently, Nupea is engaging residents of Kilifi County to raise awareness and facilitate the construction of the power plant in the area. This is if everything goes well as planned.
Right Energy Partnership which supports capacity building and knowledge exchange to aid self-determined sustainable development in renewable energy for Indigenous communities, has started a petition calling on the Kenya government to abort the implementation of the proposed nuclear power plant and calling on the government of Kenya to “navigate towards a just and sustainable transition to clean energy that respects the rights and dignity of the people and the planet.”
Activists and environmental experts from Russia, South Africa, Sweden and other countries have arrived in Kenya to collaborate and organize with local groups against the construction of the nuclear power plant in Kilifi. In a press statement, eco-justice organizations from the represented countries announced their mission to share insights and experiences from living with nuclear energy in their home countries. For months, Kilifi residents and their leaders have protested against the construction of a nuclear power plant, fearing it will destroy the marine system and lead to their evictions. The arrival of the visitors is expected to boost their efforts.
