Speaker
Description
The safe and secure transport of radioactive material is a critical component of nuclear safety and security infrastructure, particularly in countries experiencing increased medical, industrial, and research applications of radioactive sources. This study investigates the current policy and regulatory framework governing the transport of nuclear and radioactive material in Kenya, evaluates operational practices, and identifies gaps that undermine compliance with international safety and security standards.
The research adopts a qualitative case study approach, incorporating document analysis, expert interviews, and field observations across major transport corridors and institutions mandated with regulatory oversight, law enforcement, emergency response, and material consignments. The study is anchored in the framework of the IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (SSR-6 Rev.1) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment.
Preliminary findings reveal fragmented institutional coordination, limited awareness and training among frontline responders, logistical inadequacies in secure transport means, and the absence of a national strategy for emergency response during transport incidents. Moreover, while Kenya has made strides in ratifying relevant international instruments, the domestication and enforcement of these instruments remain inconsistent.
The paper proposes a strategic model for strengthening national transport security and safety, including: integrated inter-agency coordination mechanisms; capacity building for transport operators and response agencies; development of a national transport security plan; and enhanced regulatory oversight through digital tracking and risk-based inspections.
The research aims to contribute to the global discourse on best practices in radioactive material transport, offer context-specific insights from the Global South, and provide actionable policy and operational recommendations to enhance Kenya’s alignment with international obligations and safeguard public and environmental health.
