Kenya’s plan to build a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant has taken a new turn, with authorities now considering Lake Victoria — Africa’s largest freshwater lake — as a potential site. The move has reignited debate over the country’s nuclear ambitions, with experts and communities raising alarm over possible environmental, social, and financial risks.
From the Coast to the Lake
Initially, the project was centered on Uyombo, a fishing village in Kilifi County along Kenya’s southeastern coast. The plan triggered fierce resistance from residents, environmental groups, and conservationists who warned of threats to coastal ecosystems and livelihoods. Protests were met with police force, and several demonstrators were arrested.
On June 27, during the Nuclear Power Conference at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum quietly announced that Luanda Kotieno, in Siaya County on the shores of Lake Victoria, is now under consideration.
“As the elected member of parliament for Rarieda, I can say that we fully accept, even though we will continue engaging [with the population],” said MP Paul Otiende Amollo at the conference.
Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) confirmed that three sites are currently shortlisted: Uyombo (Kilifi), Luanda Kotieno (Siaya), and an unspecified site in Turkana County in the northwest. No final decision has been made.
Nuclear Energy Push vs Renewable Track Record
Kenya’s government argues that nuclear energy is essential to meet future energy demands as the country industrializes. It has set a goal to connect nuclear power to the national grid by 2034.
“Diversifying our energy sources and maintaining a clean environment are critical to our development agenda,” said former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who appeared supportive of the project. “The fact that we took this region as a candidate host for the power plant is a recognition of its unique strategic advantages.”
Kenya currently generates more than 90% of its electricity from low-carbon sources — including geothermal, wind, hydropower, and solar — and is on track to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. It also hosts the continent’s largest wind farm, the Lake Turkana Wind Project, which adds 307 MW to the national grid.
This renewable leadership has prompted some experts to question the need for nuclear. “Nuclear projects are extremely expensive, and you won’t see anything coming out of them for at least 10 years, probably 20,” said Hartmut Winkler, a nuclear energy specialist at the University of Johannesburg. “They are notorious for delays and cost overruns.”
Environmental & Social Red Flags
Environmental experts warn that placing a nuclear plant near Lake Victoria could pose severe risks to freshwater biodiversity and fisheries. The lake supports more than 800,000 metric tons of fish annually and connects to major water systems, including the Nile River.
A review by the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) found that NuPEA’s Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) does not meet international standards for informed decision-making. It highlighted a lack of clarity on nuclear waste management — a long-term issue for all nuclear facilities.
“The main thing is the finances,” Winkler added, “but eventually, you are going to end up with nuclear waste. That will have to go somewhere. That’s a long-term problem that won’t go away.”
Uyombo activists also fear ecological damage. “We have turtles here, endangered sea species, and sensitive corals that only exist here,” said Anthony Kingi from the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA). “We do not want to lose these endangered species.”
Residents in Uyombo, still wary after earlier confrontations, say communication from government agencies has been poor. “They didn’t involve us from the start, didn’t explain what nuclear energy is. When we asked questions, we got arrested,” said Sanita Kitole, an Uyombo resident and CJGEA member.
Water, Waste and Community Consent
Nuclear plants require significant amounts of water for cooling — 15–25% more than coal-fired power plants, according to NuPEA’s draft SESA. In Kenya’s tropical climate, this requirement would be even higher, raising concerns over water stress in Lake Victoria and surrounding ecosystems.
While government officials have emphasized community engagement, critics argue that consultations have been inadequate and rushed. The Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment did not respond to requests for comment.
A Divided Future
Supporters argue that nuclear energy offers a pathway out of Africa’s chronic energy shortages, pointing to international standards for safe waste management. “If it is possible elsewhere, it should be possible in Africa,” said Oluwole Olutola, a postdoctoral fellow in climate change and environmental politics at the University of Johannesburg.
Opponents counter that Kenya already has abundant renewable potential and lacks the institutional capacity to manage the complex risks associated with nuclear energy.
“Nuclear powerplant in whatever form is a disaster,” wrote one commenter, Oling’ Chuny, in an online discussion. “Locating one on the shores of Lake Victoria is suicidal.”
As Kenya moves toward a decision, the tension between energy ambitions and environmental protection continues to sharpen — with Lake Victoria at the heart of the debate.