Siaya County is poised to become Kenya’s first hub for nuclear energy, with Governor James Orengo endorsing plans for a nuclear power plant in the region.
He described the initiative as a safe and transformative investment that could stabilize electricity supply, reduce costs, and stimulate economic activity.
Speaking on NTV on October 8, 2025, Orengo shared that his visits to nuclear facilities abroad reshaped his understanding of the technology.
“When we were in Vienna and later toured a nuclear plant in Hungary, even some naysayers changed their minds,” he said.
“The place is so quiet near the reactor room that you could listen to Beethoven or Lingala music without interference.”
Addressing public concerns about radiation and waste, Orengo emphasized that modern nuclear plants are far safer than older models.
“The ways of handling nuclear waste today are very different. They are better stored and often taken away by those who construct the plant for final disposal,” he explained.
He also noted the economic benefits, saying the proposed plant could operate for around 70 years, with initial investment recoverable in 15 years, making it more cost-effective than hydro, geothermal, or other power sources.
Communities hosting the plant would gain from affordable electricity, revenue sharing, and job opportunities.
“One of the things we are doing is to create a faculty at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University to train people with the necessary technical skills,” Orengo said. The county also plans to upgrade TVET institutions to equip local workers for new employment prospects.
Orengo revealed that investors from Korea and the United States have expressed interest in collaborating on the project, which he believes could make Siaya “a model of sustainable and affordable power for the entire country.”
The Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has shortlisted eight potential sites in Siaya County: Ugambe, Sirongo, Tiunda, Manyuanda, Osindo, Nyangoye, Dagamoyo, and Kanyawayaga, all situated along or near the Lake Victoria shoreline.
The plant is expected to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, with construction estimated to cost around Sh500 billion (roughly US$3.9–4.1 billion) depending on the site and technology chosen.
Construction could begin by 2027, with operations starting between 2034 and 2035.
A nuclear power plant uses heat from a nuclear reactor to produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators that create electricity.
Globally, as of September 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports 410 nuclear reactors operating across 32 countries, with another 57 under construction.