Big Blow as Ruto Is Dragged to Court Over KSh 490 Billion Nuclear Plant Planned Near Lake Victoria

President William Ruto’s plan to build a nuclear power plant in the Lake Victoria region has landed in court, with a petitioner arguing that the project threatens the lake and the communities living around it.

According to a report, the case was filed on September 23 by Dickens Ochieng, a human rights lawyer and resident of Siaya County.He is opposed to the government’s decision to locate the project in the Lake Victoria region.

The project is estimated to cost KSh 490 billion.

Once completed, it is expected to generate electricity to help power the country.

The government has presented nuclear energy as a way of increasing supply, reducing reliance on other sources and supporting industrial growth.

The petitioner, however, is concerned about the safety of the chosen location.

The report says the plant could endanger the lake and nearby residents.

It also raises fears that pollution linked to the facility could affect the water.

The petition argues that such a plant should be built in a less populated area to reduce the risks.

Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa and is shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Millions of people depend on it for fishing, farming, drinking water and trade.

Any threat to its ecosystem is therefore likely to draw concern beyond Kenya’s borders.Nuclear plants often require large volumes of water for cooling, which is one reason such projects are commonly built near lakes, rivers or the sea.

Experts, however, stress that strict environmental assessments and public participation are needed before approval.

Kenya has been exploring nuclear power for years through the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, which has been preparing the ground for the country’s first plant.

Under Kenyan law, major projects must go through environmental and public consultation processes, and courts can be asked to review whether these requirements have been met.

Kenyans are now waiting to see how the president and the government will respond to the petition.

The court could dismiss the case and allow the project to proceed, or it could issue orders that affect the timeline.

Details of the hearing dates were not immediately available.

The case has opened a new debate on how Kenya can balance its growing energy needs with the protection of the environment and the safety of its citizens.

https://x.com/Kenyans/status/2105216447639155089