Siaya
By Patricia Nanteza
We are back from Siaya, and what a week that was!! From the enthusiasm of the students at JOOUST, the engaging callers on Nam Lolwe FM, Lwasi FM, Ramogi FM and TV, to the excitement of riding into town with a mobile caravan bearing information about nuclear energy… here is our report card. ⚛️
🔹 Misinformation is widespread.
We encountered quite a bit of misinformation circulating among communities. For example, some people believe that a nuclear power plant requires an 8-km-radius of empty land.
🌞Solution: Ongoing public education to replace fear and misinformation with accurate information
🔹 Communities want to hear from their leaders.
The community demanded greater engagement from elected leaders and relevant government departments.
🌞Solution: We are open and eager to work with the people’s leaders to localize the message and make complex nuclear energy information easier to understand.
🔹 Radical transparency is essential.
Communities need clear and timely information from implementing agencies like NuPEA on issues such as zoning, land acquisition, and compensation.
🌞 What’s in it for us?
No developed country is energy poor. Development rises and sets on energy prosperity. We want dignity and opportunity for our children, young and old people, and future generations.
That is why we rode into town with our name and logo clearly displayed and gave boda boda riders reflector jackets bearing our name. Public engagement must be visible, open, and accountable.
Clean energy sovereignty is possible, but only if we take communities along with us. ⚛️
🙏Thank you to all the partners who joined us. Let’s do this again – and often!