Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has revealed that the opposition will head to court to halt the establishment of a Ksh500 billion nuclear power station that is expected to be erected in Kilifi County.
Speaking in Malindi on Sunday, May 8, Kalonzo claimed that the opposition has directed lawyer Ndegwa Njiru to head to court and sue the government for laying plans to kickstart the project.
"We have Ndegwa Njiru here, and we have directed him to head to court and refuse anything to do with nuclear power in Malindi," Kalonzo said.
Echoing Kalonzo, the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stressed that the establishment of a nuclear plant in the county will not only pose a significant risk to the lives of the Kilifi residents but will also mark the downfall of the economic vibrance, which is driven by tourism, of the county.
"The nuclear project will come and run the lives of the residents of Kilifi. Many tourists come here and I know if the project starts, many of them will not be happy and they will be forced not to visit here," Gachagua said.
According to the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), the development of a nuclear power station in Kilifi is expected to kickstart in 2027 and begin operations by 2034.
Since the government announced plans to build a plant in 2023, which will be Kenya's first-ever operational nuclear plant, residents on the coast have raised deep concerns over the implications of the emissions.
However, according to NuPEA, the project is expected to be pivotal to Kenya's economic development by supporting industries like manufacturing, mining, and textiles, in addition to creating more job opportunities.
According to NuPEA, the project will also play a critical role in providing clean, stable, reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy.
"This will contribute significantly to the national and county economic development agenda, generate employment opportunities, and enhance the quality of life for Kenyans. Additionally, he emphasised that nuclear will complement other renewable energy sources, thereby stabilising the grid," NuPEA said in a statement.
Earlier this year, on Tuesday, March 11, Members of the National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining claimed that they would have deeper consultations with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, the Ministry of Energy, the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
"Let us not kill something that has been invented elsewhere and helped others; we only need to come up with a plan to fill the gaps in some of our observations. This is a national project involving taxpayers," the committee said.
