President William Ruto has urged global partners to back Kenya’s push into nuclear energy, saying the country needs strong policy support, skills development, and financing to safely grow the sector and meet rising power demand.
Speaking in Nairobi during the International Conference on Nuclear Energy on Wednesday, Ruto said the meeting was key in shaping how developing nations approach nuclear power as part of their energy mix. He stressed that access to reliable energy remains central to economic growth and industrial progress.
“This conference is very crucial because the deliberations here will set a new paradigm for many countries, especially in the Global South, on a critical source of energy,” he said. “No country in the world has ever achieved its development ambitions without adequate and reliable energy. Energy is the lifeblood of industrialization, innovation, and economic transformation.”
Ruto revealed that Kenya plans to expand its electricity capacity from the current 3,300 megawatts by adding 10,000 megawatts within the next five to seven years. Of this, 3,000 megawatts will come from nuclear power, forming a key part of efforts to ensure steady and clean energy supply.
He said nuclear energy would help reduce reliance on unstable fossil fuel markets while offering consistent power needed to support industries and economic activities.
The President also pointed to the economic gains expected from the project, noting that it would create thousands of jobs and drive growth in different sectors.
“During the construction phase, the nuclear project will generate up to 10,000 jobs, ranging from highly specialized engineering roles to support services,” he said. “Once operational, it will provide hundreds of permanent, well-paying technical positions, while stimulating the local economy through housing, hospitality, retail, and agriculture.”
Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to global nuclear safety standards, adding that the country is working closely with international partners including the United States, France, Korea, China, India, Singapore, and European nations to build a strong regulatory and technical base.
He noted that Kenya has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States on civil nuclear cooperation and expects to finalize a 123 Agreement within three months.
“The development of nuclear energy will sustainably and safely power our industries, accelerate our development, and propel us firmly to a first-world economy,” he said. “Through collaboration with international partners and institutions, we have built an ecosystem robust enough to support this transformative journey.”
The President called on county governments, private sector players, and civil society groups to take part in the nuclear energy programme to ensure its benefits are widely shared across the country.
The conference comes as Kenya prepares for a major Sh500 billion nuclear power project planned for Siaya County. The project aims to provide reliable, carbon-neutral baseload power as the country works to diversify its energy sources.
Led by the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency in partnership with Kenya Electricity Generating Company, the plant is expected to break ground on March 1, 2027. It will initially produce 2,000 megawatts, with the capacity to expand to 6,000 megawatts in the long term.
