PBI-Kenya meets with survivors of National Police Service violence at protest against proposed nuclear power plant in Uyombo

The Peace Brigades International-Kenya Project has posted: “We met survivors of police brutality from the anti-nuclear plant protest in Uyombo. They shared heartbreaking stories of how @NPSOfficial_KE [National Police Service-Kenya] metre’s violence against them as they sought to be heard. We urge the govt to heed their calls and @IPOA_KE [Independent Policing Oversight Authority] to investigate the incident.”
That same day, PBI-Kenya also posted: “We held a meeting with @CJGEA_Kenya [Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action-Kenya] discussing the risks of a proposed nuclear power plant in Uyombo, Kilifi County. We covered environmental threats, public health concerns, lack of remediation policies, and potential security issues. Community input and safety must come first.”
The Guardian has reported: “The proposals [for nuclear power plants in Kenya] have sparked fierce opposition in Kilifi. In a building by Mida Creek, a swampy bayou known for its birdlife and mangrove forests, more than a dozen conservation and rights groups meet regularly to discuss the proposed plant.”
The Guardian also notes: “Tensions between anti-nuclear activists and the government are growing. The UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, expressed concern [in this tweet] over police violence against people in Uyombo, a potential plant site, during a protest [on May 21]. Activists said their peaceful protest was met with excessive violence, beatings, arrests and intimidation.”
Right Livelihood further explains: “Police in Uyombo, Kenya, fired 137 live rounds and 70 tear gas canisters near a group of peaceful protestors and arrested two environmental defenders on Tuesday, May 21… Omido, who is at the forefront of efforts to stop the dangerous project and is currently abroad, fears arrest upon her return to Kenya.”
Their article adds: “Protests broke out on Tuesday after work began on the construction of the nuclear reactor. The day before, NuPEA officials installed a seismic station at a secondary school in the village without informing the community. When a woman questioned officials over the move, she was brutalised by police.”
To listen to Alan Kasujja interview environmental activist Phyllis Omido, who is leading the campaign against the project, click on the BBC Africa Daily podcast.
Omido highlights that Kenya will need to import uranium for nuclear power plants.
The Guardian has also noted: “The use of nuclear power would make Kenya dependent on imported uranium, used to generate nuclear fuel.”
The World Nuclear Association also says: “In 2022 Kazakhstan produced the largest share of uranium from mines (43% of world supply), followed by Canada (15%) and Namibia (11%).” Most of Canada’s reserves are located in the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan. Russia produces about 5-8% of the world’s supply. It’s not clear from published sources where Kenya’s nuclear power plants would receive uranium.
Construction on the power station is expected to start in 2027 with it due to be operational in 2034.
We continue to follow this situation.
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