A powerful coalition of Luo elders has unequivocally rejected President William Ruto’s ambitious plan to construct Kenya’s first nuclear power plant in Siaya County, citing profound health and environmental concerns that extend across the East African region.
This decision, announced at a press conference on December 21, follows a unanimous agreement among the elders to oppose the Ksh500 billion project in its entirety.
The elders emphasized the “likely implications of the nuclear plant for health and environmental concerns around the entire East African region,” resolving to reject the project “in totality.”
Their concerns echo those previously raised by residents in Kilifi, where the project was initially proposed before being relocated to Siaya due to similar environmental fears. The Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) had identified Siaya as the preferred location, setting aside several sites along Lake Victoria for their critical cooling water needs.
In a significant show of regional solidarity, Luhya elders have also joined their Luo counterparts in opposing the nuclear plant, highlighting shared anxieties about the project’s impact on the Lake Victoria ecosystem and the communities dependent on it.
Both groups questioned the lack of meaningful public participation and warned against imposing dangerous projects without community consent. They have formed a joint technical committee to further assess the potential risks.
Despite endorsements from figures like the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, and Siaya Governor James Orengo, who championed the project as a “game-changer” for industrialization and job creation, community opposition remains steadfast.
Experts also caution about the high costs, potential delays, and long-term nuclear waste management challenges associated with such projects.
