Mr. Justus Wabuyabo, the Chief Executive Officer of Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) of Kenya and Dr. Han Gyu JOO, the President Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) of the Republic of Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Technical Cooperation in Nuclear Energy Research and Development.

The signing took place in Vienna, Austria, on the sidelines of the 69th IAEA General Conference and was witnessed by the Head of Kenya’s delegation to the General Conference Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat the Principal Secretary State Department for Science Research and Innovation. The agreement marks a significant step forward in Kenya’s efforts to establish a robust nuclear infrastructure.

NuPEA is implementing the Kenya Nuclear Research Reactor (KNRR) project, which is central to the country’s sustainable nuclear ambitions. Research reactor is key to enhancing Kenya’s capacity for nuclear R&D and increasing national participation in the nuclear power programme. The KNRR project is envisioned to play a vital role in achieving the objectives of Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) by providing applications in health, energy, agriculture, industry, and research.

The signed MoU builds on a successful prior engagement between the two institutions, which saw the completion of the Feasibility Study for the KNRR project. In Implementing the KNRR, NuPEA has already conducted extensive preliminary work, including stakeholder needs assessments, strategic planning, economic analysis, and site investigations.

This new agreement will strengthen collaborative efforts to further advance both nuclear power and research reactor programmes in Kenya, ultimately contributing to the nation’s long-term energy security, scientific progress, and industrial growth.

NuPEA and KAERI reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing nuclear science and technology for sustainable socio-economic development. They pledged to continue their partnership, guided by principles of transparency, responsibility, and mutual benefit, as they embark on this next phase of cooperation.