By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Kenya has reaffirmed its
commitment to expanding the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology
through strengthened collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA).
In a recent engagement in
Vienna, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Principal Secretary in Kenya's State
Department for Science, Research and Innovation, paid a courtesy call on Liu
Hua, Deputy Director General of the IAEA, to express appreciation for the
agency’s continued support under its Technical Cooperation Programme.
According to Prof.
Abdulrazak, the programme has played a critical role in facilitating the
transfer of peaceful nuclear technologies and building human resource capacity
across key sectors including energy, agriculture, healthcare, environmental
protection, safety, and water resource management.
He noted that nuclear
science and technology are making a significant contribution to socioeconomic
development in Kenya and across Africa. The collaboration with the IAEA has
supported efforts to strengthen expertise and infrastructure while enabling countries
to harness nuclear applications for sustainable development.
Kenya is currently expanding
the use of nuclear technology in healthcare, particularly in the diagnosis and
treatment of cancer, while also leveraging nuclear techniques to improve food
safety and food security. The country is simultaneously advancing preparations
for a nuclear power programme and enhancing its regulatory framework to ensure
the safe and secure use of nuclear technologies.
The engagement underscores
Kenya’s growing focus on science, research, and innovation as drivers of
national development and reflects the country's commitment to international
partnerships that support technological advancement.
