Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1475263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1475263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi North, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Owen Baya",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a statement from the chairpersons of the departmental committees on Energy and Environment and Forestry and Mining regarding the implementation of a nuclear power plant project in Uyombo Village, Matsangoni Ward within Kilifi North Constituency. The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) is a State Corporation established under the Energy Act 2019 with the mandate to promote and implement Kenya’s nuclear power programmes, including carrying out research, development and capacity building in the energy sector. NuPEA recently initiated the process of implementing a nuclear power plant project in Uyombo, Matsongoni Ward, Kilifi North Constituency and put up a mast at the location. The production of nuclear energy is a delicate and dangerous process that threatens the existence of people in its surroundings. Further, the people of Uyombo have rejected the implementation of a nuclear power plant project due to risks that would negatively affect their lives and generations to come. That project poses significant risks such as radioactive reactions and leaks, nuclear waste disposal, permanent destruction of the ecosystem and lack of capacity to handle accidents. Moreover, it will impact their fishing activities and the tourism industry at large. Article 10 as read together with Article 69(d) of the Constitution prohibits the implementation of any public project without public participation. While NuPEA partially complied with that provision, concerns have been raised on the way the exercise was conducted. The public participation was marred by use of excessive force, discrimination against the people of Uyombo, harassment and unlawful arrests of locals who are apparently being coerced to accept the implementation of the project on their land. Article 40(3) of the Constitution also entitles individuals whose land is compulsorily acquired by the Government to receive certain compensation. Notably, the nuclear power plant project is being implemented on land belonging to individual persons who possess legal ownership documents of the land and face the risk of being relocated from their land. Regrettably, the implementation of the project without compliance to the law and adherence to directives and guidelines has deprived the people of Uyombo of their rights in accordance to Article 42 as read together with Article 70 of the Constitution. Although the project has been proposed to be implemented only in Uyombo, Matsongoni Ward, Kilifi North Constituency, there is a real existential threat to the whole country in the unfortunate event of a disaster. Many countries have discouraged nuclear energy production and refrained from it due to its dangerous impacts. African countries, including Kenya, have yet to demonstrate their ability to handle nuclear disasters thus making the Uyombo nuclear project a big risk. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I seek a statement from the chairpersons of the Departmental Committee on Energy and Environment, Forestry and Mining on the following: 1. Could the committees, jointly, conduct an inquiry to establish whether there is a breach of constitutional provisions and if so, provide a detailed report with The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}