Impact of International Cooperation on Security of Radioactive Sources in Kenya

Over the years, safety culture has been promoted in the country. Some years back, it seemed safety had overridden security culture in the country due to misconception. Kenya is a country has made efforts in nurturing security culture. small quantity protocol country. However, in recent years, security has steadily gained momentum partly due to terrorism risk in our country but mainly due to increased awareness among the stakeholders in the country and embrace of security culture by the regulatory, Radiation Protection Board. International cooperation has played a key role in assisting the regulatory body and stakeholders to embrace the security culture. Close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and other partners such as the government of United States has enhanced the security regime of the radioactive sources in the country. Some of the benefits include hosting of peer review missions, national training courses and workshops among other nuclear security initiatives whose benefits are felt to date. The increased awareness among Government stakeholders assisted the Radiation Protection Board to be assigned by the Government the role of regulating nuclear security in Kenya. This paper will share with the International community the benefits Kenya has gained from the international cooperation. It will also share the challenges faced in sustaining benefits made in nurturing security culture and effort made to achieve its sustenance. (author)