Kenya’s first nuclear plant sparks land rights battle in biodiverse coastal community

In the quiet fishing town of Uyombo along Kenya’s southern coast, where dolphins occasionally surface in nearby waters and mangroves flourish in Mida Creek, residents are fighting to protect their way of life. The government has selected this biodiversity-rich area, located near Watamu Marine National Park, as the site for Kenya’s first nuclear power plant—a decision that has ignited fierce community opposition and exposed deeper issues surrounding land rights in the country.

Environmental activist Sanita Kitole, who has spent years working with local communities to restore mangroves and develop sustainable businesses, represents the growing resistance to the project. According to Kenya’s nuclear power regulator NuPEA, the plant is necessary to meet the country’s expanding electricity demands as hydropower becomes insufficient for development goals. However, residents say they were never properly consulted about the decision that could strip them of their ancestral lands, sea access, and fishing-dependent livelihoods.

The controversy extends beyond displacement concerns. Community members question the unclear plans for radioactive waste management and worry about environmental impacts on the nearby UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest. When residents have organized protests or asked questions about the nuclear project, some have faced arrest, according to Kitole. The conflict highlights a broader pattern across Africa where communities struggle to maintain control over their traditional territories as governments pursue large-scale development projects, often without meaningful local consultation or consent.