Kenyans protesting nuclear facility face terrorism investigation

In Kenya, protests erupted over a proposed nuclear power plant near Bondo, a town in Siaya County close to Lake Victoria. The government intends to construct a 2,000-megawatt facility, a project that sparked controversy among local residents. On July 24, a public consultation meeting held by officials, including representatives from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), turned confrontational when landowners invited to the event began protesting the plan. One individual was shot, and numerous residents were apprehended.

Lawyer and community member Dickens Ochieng, who participated in the meeting, recounted the incident to Mongabay. He explained that the protesters shouted "Wadagi," meaning "we don't want the project" in the Luo language. As tensions escalated, a police officer guarding the government officials discharged his firearm, resulting in a shooting.

Subsequently, residents threw stones at the police, who retaliated with tear gas. Following the disturbances, 17 individuals were arrested and are currently under investigation for assault and Kenya's Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Ochieng, who is handling the legal defense of the detained protesters, asserted that the Kenyan government is intensifying its crackdown on those who oppose the nuclear project. He emphasized that the terrorism charges are unrelated to the initial incident and urged the community to remain steadfast in their opposition.