Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority ( KNRA)

What Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority ( KNRA) does

The Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) is the sole statutory regulatory body for nuclear and radiation safety in Kenya, established on 10 January 2020 under the Nuclear Regulatory Act No. 29 of 2019 (Nuclear Regulatory Act Cap 243). It succeeded the Radiation Protection Board (founded 1986) and holds exclusive authority over radiation protection, nuclear safety, nuclear security, nuclear safeguards, and non-ionizing radiation. KNRA licenses and inspects approximately 1,500 radiation facilities, registers around 2,000 radiation workers, and certifies 11 radiation protection service providers, operating through a head office in Upper Hill, Nairobi and nine regional offices covering all 47 Kenyan counties.

KNRA's primary offering is its Authorization and Licensing framework, executed via six standardized GKLRP application forms (GKLRP 1–6) covering import/export/transport, possession/use, disposal, worker registration, service provider certification, and other purposes. Supporting products include regulatory guides and guidelines, technical publications, a public Licensed Facility Registry, and inspections delivered through the regional network. The authority is also operationally responsible for the Central Radioactive Waste Processing Facility (CRWPF), commissioned on 18 March 2022. Underlying technical capabilities rest on radiation detection and measurement hardware (Spectran HF 6065, Berthold Contamination Monitors, PRM-9000, Identifinder 2, Radalert 100, Radeye).

Commercially, KNRA operates as a non-commercial public entity under two revenue streams: statutory licensing and authorization fees paid through Kenya's E-Citizen government platform (Pay Bill 222222) and government budget allocations under the Nuclear Regulatory Act. Beyond domestic regulation, KNRA hosts the EU-CBRN Regional Secretariat for the Eastern and Central African Centres of Excellence Initiative (12 member states) and participates in continental forums such as FNRBA, positioning the authority as a regional coordinator for nuclear and radiation safety.

Name

Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority ( KNRA)

Legal name

Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority

Website

https://knra.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kenya's sole statutory nuclear and radiation safety regulator, licensing ~1,500 radiation facilities and 2,000 workers across nine regional offices, while hosting the EU-CBRN Regional Secretariat serving 12 Eastern and Central African member states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Radiological Permitting (EIA, Effluent/Discharge Authorizations) (EUAKAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) & Nuclear Codes Compliance (ASME, RCC-M, etc.) (EUAKAAAI), IAEA Safeguards Implementation & Verification Support (inspections, declarations, reporting) (EUAKAJAE), Regulatory compliance, licensing & stakeholder engagement for disposal (permits, public consultation, communications) (EUAKAGAK)

Keywords

• Nuclear regulatory services
• Radiation safety licensing
• Nuclear facility authorization
• Radioactive material oversight
• Radiation protection compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Authorization Fees: KNRA collects statutory fees and charges for licensing, registration, and authorization services related to nuclear facilities, radiation facilities, and radiation sources. Fees are collected through the E-Citizen Government platform.
2. Government Budget Allocation: As a public entity established under the Nuclear Regulatory Act Cap 243, KNRA receives government funding for its regulatory operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KNRA is the statutory regulatory authority in Kenya responsible for authorizing and licensing nuclear facilities, radiation facilities, and radiation sources across medical, industrial, and research applications. It processes applications for site preparation, construction, operation, decommissioning, import/export, transport, and disposal of nuclear and radioactive materials, conducts inspections, and enforces compliance through a network of 9 regional offices and the E-Citizen digital payment platform.

Product overview

KNRA operates as a regulatory body rather than a commercial product company. The organization's primary 'products' are regulatory authorization and licensing services for nuclear and radiation-related activities. The core offering consists of the Authorization and Licensing framework (GKLRP application forms GKLRP 1-6) for various nuclear and radiation activities including import/export, possession, use, transport, and disposal. Supporting services include comprehensive guides and guidelines documents, technical publications, a public registry of licensed facilities, and inspection services delivered through 9 regional offices. The organization also provides complaint and compliment submission services and processes payments through Kenya's E-Citizen government platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Authorization and Licensing Services
• Regional Office Inspection and Compliance Services
• Licensed Facility Registry

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Excel Services CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2023KNRA entered a working partnership with Excel Services Corporation, a leading US nuclear company. The partnership focuses on supporting nuclear energy producers and regulators with expertise in feasibility studies, site selection, environmental assessment, and improving regulatory safeguards. Discussions included technology assessments and regulatory development for effective nuclear regulation.
• United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021KNRA and USNRC explored opportunities for strengthening collaboration in regulatory matters related to nuclear safety, nuclear security, and legal/regulatory framework. Areas of cooperation include human capacity building, development of regulations and regulatory documents, and regulatory infrastructure development. USNRC agreed to conduct topical workshops on regulation of nuclear power programs and emerging technologies.
• US Department of Energy / National Nuclear Security AdministrationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2013Through the FIRST (Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology) program, KNRA collaborates with US agencies on technical support for treaty verification and securing CBRNE materials, integrated nuclear security systems, and SMR technology assessment.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNRA collaborates extensively with IAEA on radiation protection, nuclear safety, and security standards. Activities include hosting regional workshops, training programs, technical cooperation, and adoption of IAEA safety guides and codes of conduct. Kenya hosted the IAEA PGEC course for African English-speaking countries.
• EU Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear Centres of Excellence (EU CBRN CoE) InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNRA hosts the EU-CBRN Regional Secretariat for the Eastern and Central African Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, comprising 12 member states. The partnership focuses on risk mitigation, capacity building, and regional cooperation in CBRN safety and security.
• Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNRA collaborates with NuPEA on operationalization of the Nuclear Regulatory Act, development of regulations and policies related to nuclear safety and security, human resource development, and Kenya's accession to international treaties and conventions.
• Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNRA participates in FNRBA, a continental forum for African nuclear regulators. FNRBA held its 23rd Steering Committee meeting focusing on building stronger, more resilient, and future-ready regulatory systems across Africa.
• African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNRA collaborates with AFCONE, the autonomous Pan-African organization overseeing implementation of the Treaty of Pelindaba (African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty). AFCONE held its 14th anniversary commemoration in Nairobi, Kenya.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South African National Nuclear Regulator (NNR): South Africa's NNR is a national nuclear and radiation safety regulator on the African continent with a more mature operating history. It is the closest geographic and functional peer to KNRA, sharing FNRBA membership and analogous statutory mandate.
• Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority: Nigeria's NNRA regulates civilian nuclear and radiation safety nationally and is an FNRBA member. It is a direct African peer to KNRA with analogous mandate, scale of licensee base, and emerging-power program context.
• Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority: Ghana's GNRA is a national nuclear and radiation safety regulator in West Africa with a comparable statutory scope and FNRBA membership. It is a direct regulatory peer to KNRA within the African regulatory community.

Others

• African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE): AFCONE is the autonomous Pan-African body overseeing implementation of the Treaty of Pelindaba (African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone). KNRA collaborates with AFCONE and hosted its 14th anniversary in Nairobi, making it a peer/partner in continental nuclear governance.
• Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA): FNRBA is the continental forum of African nuclear regulators. KNRA hosted its 23rd Steering Committee and actively participates, making FNRBA both a peer forum and a coordination counterpart for KNRA's regional leadership role.

Regional players

• Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA): NuPEA is Kenya's nuclear-energy promotion agency, formally partnered with KNRA on operationalizing the Nuclear Regulatory Act and policy development. It is a domestic peer in the broader Kenyan nuclear ecosystem, focused on promotion rather than regulation.

Broad incumbents

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA sets global nuclear safety, security, and safeguards standards and provides technical cooperation programs to member states. KNRA adopts IAEA safety guides and codes of conduct, hosts IAEA regional training, and is the implementing regulator for IAEA-derived standards in Kenya.
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC): CNSC is Canada's federal nuclear and radiation safety regulator with an established international cooperation profile. It is comparable to KNRA as a mature, statute-based national regulator adopting IAEA standards in a Commonwealth jurisdiction.
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC): The USNRC is the United States' statutory nuclear and radiation safety regulator. KNRA has an active cooperation MoU with USNRC covering regulatory framework development, human capacity building, and emerging-technology workshops, making it the closest mature counterpart for KNRA's mission.
• Office for Nuclear Regulation (UK ONR): The UK ONR is the United Kingdom's standalone nuclear and radiation safety regulator with a mature statutory framework. It serves as a global model for independent nuclear regulation that KNRA's evolving institutional design parallels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KNRAKenya
• Facebookfacebook.com/KNRAKenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-nuclear-regulatory-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority ( KNRA)