KILIFI, Sept 23 (AGCNewsNet) - Plans to construct Kenya’s first nuclear power plant in the coastal town of Kilifi have triggered resistance from local communities and environmental activists. The proposed site, located in a conservation area, has raised alarm, particularly in the small fishing village of Uyombo.

Environmental activist Anthony Kingi, speaking to The Standard, criticized the government's lack of transparency. “We lack nuclear infrastructure, have an unstable power grid, and no regulatory framework for handling nuclear waste or emergencies,” Kingi said. He and other local organizations have launched a petition to halt the project.

Despite opposition, officials in Nairobi are confident in the project. “Kilifi is the best location,” said Basset Buyukah, director of publicity and advocacy at the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Nupea). “There’s no question that we will build a nuclear power plant.”

Kenya is among several African nations planning to venture into nuclear energy. Currently, South Africa is home to the continent’s only operational nuclear power plant. Ghana, Nigeria, and Rwanda are exploring small modular reactors (SMRs), while Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania are pursuing conventional facilities.

However, critics argue that many of these plans remain stalled, with Egypt being the only African nation actively constructing a plant, with a 4.8 gigawatt facility expected to operate by 2030. Africa's rapid population growth and increasing electricity demand are key drivers for the push toward nuclear energy.

Nupea aims to start construction on Kenya’s nuclear plant between 2027 and 2029, with operations beginning by 2034. The cost is estimated at Sh500 billion. With 90% of its electricity currently generated from renewable sources, Kenya needs additional stable energy generation, which, according to Buyukah, nuclear power can provide.

Yet, experts like Musa Wafula, a former Kenya Power employee, warn that Kenya's outdated power grid could hinder the effective use of nuclear energy, as the country struggles with frequent blackouts and low grid capacity.