UN agency calls for more powers for Kenya radiation board

International Atomic Energy Agency experts addressing the media in Nairobi on after a ten-day review of the radiation regulation framework in the country on July 20, 2016. PHOTO | ELIZABETH MERAB | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The board is still a semi-autonomous body working under the Ministry of Health.
  • Radiation board official said that the board has been able to report and take to court about 20 facilities that were found flouting regulations.
  • The team called on the government to review radiation law and put in place clear regulations to guide nuclear and atomic energy sector.

United Nations nuclear energy regulator has called on the government to give more autonomy to the country’s radiation protection board to strengthen its oversight role.

Despite noting that Kenya had “demonstrated its commitment to improve the national and legal framework for radiation safety,” experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday said there was need for the government to give more powers to the Radiation Protection Board (RPB).

In its verdict after a ten-day review, the review committee said that giving RPB independence, would assist it to meet its commitment in strengthening the oversight of all radiation-related facilities and activities in the country.

The board is still a semi-autonomous body working under the Ministry of Health.

Most of the regulations undertaken by RPB revolve around facilities that conduct X-ray services, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography (CT) scan.

Radiation Protection Board mandates are often met through registration, inspections, licensing and enforcing compliance with the Radiation Protection Act.

Assistant chief radiation protection officer Arthur Koteng’ said that the board had sued about 20 facilities that were found flouting regulations.

“Most of the cases have been about the facilities not paying the license fee, which is about Sh4, 000 per X-ray machine annually. Others have not met the set parameters hence their closure,” he said.

However, he noted that beyond litigation, the board was faced by understaffing and could not make independent decisions to hire more.

“As it is, if the government says it has frozen employment, there is nothing we can do,” added Mr Koteng’.

The review committee was in the country on government invitation to assess the regulatory framework for radiation safety.

“Kenya has demonstrated its commitment to improve the national legal and regulatory framework for radiation safety. However, steps to ensure the RPB’s effective independence would help it achieve this objective,” Mr Javier Zarzuela, the integrated regulatory review service team leader said at a press conference in a Nairobi.

The team called on the government to review radiation law and put in place clear regulations to guide the nuclear and atomic energy sector.

The 12-member team — comprising experts from France, Hungary, India, Ireland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe as well as IAEA staff — was keen to state that current law, that dates back to 1986 was not sufficient in covering some of the emerging issues in the sector.

“Some areas are not well regulated therefore creating conflicts. We need to know who regulates what,” added Mr Zarzuela.

Last year, a similar team came to assess the country’s preparations in making knowledgeable decision about introducing nuclear power.