The government, on Friday, December 17, impounded a ship ferrying radioactive material at the port of Mombasa.
Officials at the port stated that the ship arrived at the Kenyan coast, four days earlier, on December 13, 2021.
A statement by the Ministry of Health indicated that it contained highly explosive material classified as dangerous for public exposure, was detected by radiation monitors installed at the port.
Acting Director of Health, Patrick Amoth, and the Mombasa Port Health Officer directed the ship to be isolated in a safe location for inspection.
"A medical examination of the persons on board shall also be conducted before they are taken in for questioning," the statement read in part.
It was reported that the ship had already discharged some cargo destined for Tanzania. Officials did not disclose whether they would track the cargo or notify the neighbouring of the impending danger.
The Ministry, however, asserted that Kenya has an international obligation to prevent, intercept, interdict, and combat illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear material and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
It also notified the International Nuclear Energy Agency to take further action.
While speaking in Mombasa County on Friday, December 17, President Uhuru Kenyatta underscored the importance of shipbuilding to the manufacturing pillar of the country's Big 4 development blueprint.
He added that security at the port was vital as its activities are crucial in unlocking the country's immense ocean and blue economy potential.
Uhuru commissioned the 4000-ton Mombasa Shipyard at the Kenya Navy Base in Mtongwe, Mombasa County, constructed by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
"Launched in May this year by President Kenyatta in Kisumu County, KSL was formed as part of Govt efforts to expand the contribution of the blue economy to Kenya's socio-economic transformation, and has a broad mandate of catalysing shipbuilding activities in East Africa," State House said in a statement.
