{"id":27938,"date":"2025-08-28T18:48:59","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/?p=27938"},"modified":"2025-09-01T13:08:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T10:08:23","slug":"governor-james-orengo-meets-with-nuclear-power-and-energy-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/governor-james-orengo-meets-with-nuclear-power-and-energy-agency\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor James Orengo Meets with Nuclear Power and Energy Agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Today, Governor James Orengo of Siaya County hosted a delegation from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) for a consultative meeting to discuss the proposed nuclear power plant in Siaya County, as initiated by the National Government under President William Ruto.<\/p>\n

The meeting addressed key aspects of the plant\u2019s development, aiming to clarify concerns and outline its benefits. Governor Orengo reassured residents that the plant is not solely for atomic nuclear energy but is designed to be a safe facility. It will contribute to the national power grid by generating electricity for industrial and domestic use.<\/p>\n

The NuPEA team, led by Board Chairperson Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe, explained that the plant\u2019s initial generation capacity is set at 2,000 megawatts, with plans to increase it to 3,400 megawatts. Prof. Gumbe emphasized the need for consistent power sources in Kenya, noting that nuclear power, derived from fusion, is a reliable and sustainable option. \u201cIt\u2019s safe, non-polluting, and a small mass can generate energy for an extended period with minimal waste,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

If successful, this project will position Kenya among developed nations like the United States, which produces 4% of its energy from nuclear sources, and France, at 3%. Prof. Gumbe highlighted that nuclear energy is associated with fewer human fatalities compared to other energy sources, including solar, making it a safer option. He also called for robust public participation to ensure transparency and community support.<\/p>\n

Siaya County, alongside Kilifi and Kwale counties, has been identified as a potential site for the plant, with areas in Rarieda and Yimbo earmarked for viability assessments. The project, estimated at Ksh. 500 billion, will be financed by the National Government with support from donors in China, South Korea, and the United States. It is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate infrastructure development (including roads, housing, and utilities), and provide an economic boost to the county. Additionally, it will foster skill development in nuclear science and related fields among the youth. The plant is intended for peaceful purposes, adhering to international treaties and guided by parliamentary legislation to prevent nuclear disarmament or international conflicts.<\/p>\n

\"\"The NuPEA team noted that the project has the support of the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) and the Council of Governors (CoG), where Governor Orengo holds a position. The plant is projected to have a lifespan of hundreds of years, featuring high-security measures and waste recycling systems. Specialized skills in engineering and other fields will be required, and NuPEA plans to collaborate with Technical and Vocational Training Institutes to develop relevant educational curricula.
\nAs part of the partnership, NuPEA will establish an office in Siaya to streamline operations. Governor Orengo congratulated the team and pledged unwavering support for the project\u2019s success. He emphasized the county\u2019s commitment to providing affordable, safe energy for industries, homes, and economic growth through collaboration with the National Government, private sector, and donors.
\nTechnical staff from both the county and NuPEA will oversee the project\u2019s initial phases, which will be officially commissioned by President William Ruto and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga upon completion of feasibility studies.<\/p>\n

This meeting follows the inaugural public engagement session on the nuclear power plant, held two months ago at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Bondo. The event, hosted by Siaya County and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, was attended by Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, Speaker of the County Assembly Rt. Hon. George Okode, and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n

The project aligns with Kenya\u2019s Least Cost Power Development Plan, offering opportunities for energy security, sustainable development, and technology transfer. It will adhere strictly to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) protocols to ensure compliance with global standards.<\/p>\n

\"\"Governor Orengo was accompanied by County Secretary and Head of County Public Service Mr. Joseph Ogutu, along with County Executive Committee Members (CECMs): Agunda Ochanda (Governance, Administration, and ICT), Dr. Edgar Otumba (Education, Gender, Youth Affairs, and Social Services), Sylvester K\u2019Okoth (Agriculture, Livestock, Food Security, and Blue Economy), Grace Agola (Trade, Enterprises, Industries, and Cooperatives), Prof. Jacqueline Oduol (Environment, Water, Irrigation, Climate Change, and Natural Resources), George Nying\u2019iro (Acting Finance and Economic Planning), and Dr. Martin K\u2019Onyango (Health and Sanitation). Chief Officers present included Eng. Kevin Ajuul (Roads and Public Works) and Elizabeth Adongo (Acting Trade, Enterprises, Industries, and Cooperatives). Directors in attendance were Chrispine Omondi (Public Communication, Civic Education, and Petitions), Eng. Adrian Ouma (Protocol), and Zilpah Menya (Cabinet Affairs), alongside other county and agency officials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, Governor James Orengo of Siaya County hosted a delegation from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) for a consultative meeting to discuss the proposed nuclear power plant in Siaya County, as initiated by the National Government under President William Ruto. The meeting addressed key aspects of the plant\u2019s development, aiming to clarify concerns […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":27939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-updates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siaya.go.ke\/siaya\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}