Kenya: Uyombo NPP project contested by Kilifi residents

The Uyombo Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project has been met with fierce resistance from residents of Kilifi County, who have unanimously opposed it for environmental reasons. This week, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, accompanied by officials from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), visited the county for a fact-finding mission and faced strong criticism from residents and local leaders. Amina Kombo, a resident of Uyombo village, said that people of the area “as a whole” do not want a nuclear power plant. Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro agreed with this assessment, saying that residents are now more opposed to the project than leaders themselves. He told the Energy Secretary that the project is not feasible in the territory. Several residents also expressed anger over what they perceived as a lack of respect and proper consultation from the government. Mzee Bakari Juma, another villager from Uyombo, said nobody asked for their opinion on the issue, imposing it on the community without paying attention to the potential effects on land and people.