NUCLEAR REGULATORY ACT, 2019 - DRAFT IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS:
- Category: NECSA Memoranda
- Date 02-02-2022
In 2019, Kenya enacted the Nuclear Regulatory Act which set up the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) which regulates nuclear energy production and use and enforces the law. The 2019 Act governs nuclear and radioactive usage in Kenya with strict compliance measures.
In the same year, the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NUPEA) was set up but under a different Act this time - the Energy Act.
Under the Kenyan law, and both Acts, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is mandated to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments when nuclear projects are being set up.
This year (2022), the KNRA published nine sets of draft regulations to regulate use of nuclear and radioactive energies. The regulations guide and gives measures on prevention, management, safety and responsible usage of nuclear power and radioactive materials to protect human beings, we note that most of these regulations seem to have originated from the Ministry of Health and there is little mention on environmental protection.
It is on the backdrop of these concerns that the National Environment Civil Society Alliance of Kenya (NECSA-K) convened its members to review the document and present its comments to the KNRA.
The Alliance generated meaningful comments that can be downloaded and read here.