Safe and efficient use of nuclear technology has been touted as an intervention against climate change and food insecurity.
Experts said beneficial applications of nuclear in health, energy and security continue to impact lives, only that there's insufficient knowledge on it among policy and decision-makers.
At a multi-sector meeting convened by the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) to address safety culture in Nairobi, yesterday, officials called for more peer reviews and workshops to highlight the benefits.
"It is important that the benefits of nuclear technology be communicated to all, so that the safety on its utilisation is given the priority it deserves and that safety is not compromised," said KNRA Director for Standards Shadrack Kiti.
The weeklong workshop, which KNRA officials hope will lead to better oversight and adequate understanding of nuclear safety issues among key stakeholders, drew participants from the Kenya Defence Forces, the health sector and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Nuclear technology has in the past been widely misconstrued to be about war and prone to accidents, a situation that participants at yesterday's forum linked to inadequate regulatory oversight. "In the past, poor procedures, poor training, procedural deficiencies, lack of a safety culture and unclear accountability have contributed to past nuclear power accidents," Mr Kiti added, citing the example of the Chernobyl accident.
The accident occurred on April 26, 1986, when a reactor burst at the Lenin Atomic Power Station at Chornobyl due to an operational error.
The destructive potential of the accident was 100 times more fatal than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki incidents in 1945 combined.
Kiti said Kenya was committed to honouring the IAEA safety guidelines and code of conduct. "Kenya, through the KNRA, affirms its cooperation with IAEA towards the enhancement of regulatory services to the peaceful development of nuclear technology."
IAEA was represented at the forum by Jongile Majola and Gabriel Soare among others, who called for sustained collaborations in efforts towards ensuring safety in nuclear utilisation.
KNRA Director General James Keter said the agency will continuously work with stakeholders and embrace the highest international standards towards the safety and protection of lives and property. "We will work round the clock to ensure protection," he said.
