Press Release: KANA Condemns Violence Against Communities In Siaya And Calls For A Rights-Based Just Energy Transition In Kenya

Kilifi, Kenya – 28th July 2026

The Kenya Anti-Nuclear Alliance (KANA), a national movement advocating for a just, inclusive, and rights-based energy transition in Kenya, strongly condemns the violence, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests of community members in Siaya County following public engagements on the proposed nuclear power project.

On Thursday, 23 July 2026, tensions escalated during a public sensitization meeting held at Lenya Trading Centre, Ka’John Village, Central Sakwa Ward, Bondo Sub-County. The meeting was attended by officials from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the area Member of Parliament and the community.

Community members attempted to raise their concerns, seek clarification, and have their views meaningfully considered; however, their concerns were not adequately addressed but were instead met with violence and the firing of shots. The incident left several community members injured, including David Otieno Mboya, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Community members have further reported an increased police presence and nighttime operations on 24th and 25th July 2026, during which seventeen young people were arrested and now face possible, unwarranted prosecution.

The recent events in Siaya are part of a longer national conversation on Kenya’s nuclear energy ambitions. For years, communities in Kilifi County raised concerns regarding the proposed establishment of a nuclear power plant in their region. These concerns centered on inadequate public participation, environmental risks, potential impacts on livelihoods, radioactive waste management, and the need for communities to have a meaningful role in decisions affecting their future.

In late March 2026, during the International Conference on Nuclear Energy (ICoNE) held in Nairobi, President William Ruto announced that Kenya’s first nuclear power plant would be established in Siaya County, replacing Kilifi County as the proposed host location.

Following this announcement, communities in Siaya began raising similar concerns to those previously expressed in Kilifi. In April 2026, residents launched a petition to challenge the proposed project, collecting more than 400 signatures before submitting it to the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) and the Siaya County Government.

The petition highlighted concerns regarding the potential contamination of Lake Victoria, impacts on fishing livelihoods, possible displacement, radioactive waste management, long-term environmental and health risks, and whether communities had been adequately involved in decision-making processes.

In response, NuPEA announced plans to undertake what it described as a robust, transparent, and multi-layered public education campaign to address community concerns. However, despite these assurances, residents have continued to express concerns that public participation has not been sufficient and that community engagement has not met the standards required for a project of such significant social, economic, and environmental implications.

KANA strongly condemns the use of violence and intimidation against community members exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and participation in public affairs. Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to protect citizens and uphold constitutional freedoms—not suppress legitimate public concerns.

KANA further calls upon the Government of Kenya, NuPEA, KenGen, and all relevant institutions to immediately restore trust with affected communities through transparent, accountable, and inclusive engagement processes.

KANA calls upon the government to uphold and protect community rights by ensuring the safety of citizens and immediately ending any form of intimidation, harassment, or excessive use of force against individuals expressing concerns over public projects. Authorities should establish an independent and transparent investigation into the reported injuries, use of force, and arrests arising from the events of 23–25 July 2026, and ensure accountability where violations have occurred. All decisions concerning the proposed nuclear project must be guided by meaningful public participation processes that provide communities with access to independent information, opportunities to ask questions, raise concerns, and influence decisions that affect their lives. Communities must be recognised not as passive recipients of development, but as rights holders whose voices and informed consent are central to decisions affecting their land, livelihoods, environment, and future generations. As Kenya advances its energy transition, the Government must adopt a community-centred, environmentally responsible, and justice-oriented approach that ensures energy projects are developed with communities rather than merely implemented within them.

The experiences of Kilifi and Siaya provide an important lesson for Kenya’s energy future: sustainable development cannot be achieved without public trust, democratic participation, and respect for human rights.

KANA reiterates that the success of Kenya’s energy transition will not only be measured by the amount of electricity generated, but also by whether the process strengthens communities, protects ecosystems, and upholds the rights and dignity of all Kenyans.

KANA remains committed to working with communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, researchers, and development partners to advance an energy future that is transparent, equitable, sustainable, and people-centered.

For further information, please contact:

KANA Secretariat

kenyaantinuclearalliance@gmail.com

+254 772 967 888

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