Kenya’s planned first nuclear power plant has been taken to the East African Court of Justice over concerns about its proposed location near Lake Victoria. The case was filed on September 23, 2026, by Siaya resident and human rights lawyer Dickens Ochieng, challenging the government’s decision to pursue the project in Bondo, Siaya County. The proposed plant is expected to generate between 2,000MW and 5,000MW.
The petition raises concerns about the environmental and ecological implications of establishing a nuclear facility near Lake Victoria, which is shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and supports millions of people through fishing, agriculture and transport. The petitioner is seeking a transboundary environmental assessment, arguing that any potential impact could extend beyond Kenya’s borders into the wider Lake Victoria and Nile Basin.
The case also questions Kenya’s own environmental assessment. A Strategic Environmental Assessment prepared for the nuclear programme identified volcanic hazards in the Lake Victoria region as a factor requiring consideration for nuclear safety. The petition further raises security, public participation and risk-mitigation concerns. Kenya’s nuclear agency, however, says the programme is following a phased process involving site assessment, environmental studies, regulation and public engagement.
The legal challenge comes as Kenya continues developing its nuclear programme after earlier consideration of sites in Kilifi and Turkana. The project, previously estimated at about KSh490 billion, has also faced scrutiny over financing, technical requirements and environmental assessment. The East African Court of Justice has given the government 45 days to respond, potentially bringing further examination of the proposed location, environmental safeguards and consultation process.
Photo: NuPEA