Govt Responds After Protests Over Proposed Nuclear Plant in Siaya

The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has addressed anti-nuclear protests held in Siaya, promising to increase public consultation and asserting that no construction will take place until the entire community has given its consent.

In a press release Saturday, May 23, 2026, responding to demonstrations against plans to construct a nuclear plant in the county, NuPEA acknowledged and respected the concerns of the people of Siaya, emphasizing that public participation was both a right as stipulated in the Constitution and a technical necessity to the national nuclear program.

“We hear and respect the voices of the residents of Siaya,” NuPEA stated. “Public participation is not a mere procedural formality.”

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Community Opposition and NuPEA’s Response

NuPEA further said its stakeholder engagement plan has moved on from institutional high-level to village-level grassroots sensitization.

In addition, the agency added it was initiating an in-depth, transparency-driven, multi-layered educational campaign addressing public concerns regarding safety, livelihoods and land.

“No infrastructure will be built without the broad, informed consent of the community,” NuPEA declared.

This comes after protesters took to the streets in Siaya to express their opposition to the nuclear plant, citing concerns about land, displacement, environmental risks and lack of consultations.

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Public Consultation and Engagement for a Nuclear Power Plant Project

NuPEA chief executive, Mr. Justus Wabuyabo, said that the agency is fully committed to an inclusive, transparent approach and was moving to the direct community engagement level to explain the project and seek input.

“We are fully committed to executing a robust, transparent, and multi-layered educational campaign to address all anxieties regarding safety, livelihoods, and land,” Mr. Wabuyabo was quoted in the statement.

The government intends to diversify sources of energy in the country through exploring nuclear energy as a means of catering to growing energy demands in the nation. Siaya was chosen as one of the potential locations for Kenya’s first nuclear plant.

NuPEA added that the process has not yet moved beyond the public consultation phase and called on residents to take part in forthcoming sensitization forums, providing their feedback e-mail at ceo@nuclear.co.ke for residents to provide feedback and ask questions.

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NuPEA Issues a Press Statement Responds as Anti-Nuclear Protests Erupt in Siaya/ PHOTO NuPEA