Speakers
Description
In Kenya, Nuclear and Radioactive material are utilized in medicine, agriculture and Industry. Aside from these sectors there exists, 2 irradiators and a Central Waste Processing Facility (CWPF) and many mobile sources that could be targeted by adversaries. Like many other countries, Kenya has had its share of nuclear security incidents from both internal and external adversaries.
For example, in 2016, a Multi-agency undercover operation was conducted by Directorate of Criminal Investigation- Bomb technicians, National Intelligence Service and Kenya Wildlife Services in Lang’ata. It was alleged that there was an Improvised Explosive Device hidden in one of the houses. This operation led to recovering of a Cesium 137 source. A serving and a retired Kenya Defense Forces’ officers with a civilian were arrested in connection to the source. The matter is still in court and investigations in connection to the source origin is still on going. The source was being sold at a price of USD 8,000,000. It is possible that the source could be from the armed forces leading to the question on accountancy and control of nuclear and radioactive material. There have been many other incidents involving theft and loss of mobile sources used in well logging, moisture density gauges as well as in industrial radiography. In most of these incidents, information from the public has helped the regulatory body in recovering of the sources. It is evident that members of the public can be a good source of information on such incidents. It is therefore important as the regulatory body to create a platform where the public can reach you. It also portrayed that there is an active threat on radioactive material which could be targeted by adversaries.
Kenya has faced many terrorist attacks namely; the bombing of the US Embassy by the Al Qaeda and the West gate mall attack by the Al Shabaab among other attacks coupled with several criminal groups who could target radioactive material to perpetrate their violent attacks. Radioactive material such as Cs-137 in the hands of adversaries could be a prime component in making a Radiation Dispersal Device because of its potential to be dispersed. Given the many threats that are present in the country, the Radiation Protection Board has conducted a vulnerability assessments from the Nuclear Security incidences that have occurred as well as the mitigation and response strategies in place to prevent against acquisition of Nuclear and Radioactive material by non-state actors.
| State | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
