Douglas Mwiti 
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), East Africa’s leading electricity generator,hosted high level Government delegation led by Energy PS Alex Wachira on an inspection tour of KenGen Seven Forks’ dams.
This follows the natural overflow of the Seven Forks Dams due to sustained heavy inflows from ongoing rainfall.
The tour comes two weeks after KenGen issued a safety alert to communities and stakeholders living along the Seven Forks Cascade and the Tana River of a potential overflow, caused by sustained high inflows.
The alert urged communities living near the affected areas to remain vigilant, warning that they are at risk of increased river flows and potential flooding.
Speaking during the inspection tour of the dams, KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Eng. Peter Njenga, confirmed that water levels, especially in Masinga and Kiambere dams, have continued to rise sharply and have surpassed their maximum capacity.
“As of 14th May, Masinga Dam was 0.65 meters above its full supply level (1056.5 mASL), while Kiambere Dam was 0.27 meters above its full supply level (700 mASL).
Based on this trend, we have witnessed a natural overflow of Masinga Dam from 30th April 2025 due increased inflows from Thiba River and the the Aberdares.
Yesterday, Kiambere Dam began to overflow naturally,” said Eng. Njenga.
KenGen issued an alert to communities living along the Tana River downstream of Kiambere Dam, enabling them to take precautionary measures, including relocating to higher ground.
This comes alongside increased hydroelectric generation from the company’s power plants in the Seven Forks cascade, supporting both electricity supply and water management.
Echoing the government’s confidence in KenGen during the tour, Energy PS Alex Wachira reassured the country of continued supply of hydroelectricity to the national grid due KenGen’s expertise in dam management and water utilization.
“Today we are here to monitor the performance of our hydropower dams against the backdrop of the ongoing rains.
There is no doubt that these rains will have a positive impact on our electricity mix.
The Ministry is currently coordinating closely with KenGen and other stakeholders to ensure the integrity and safety of our dams, which are critical infrastructure within our energy ecosystem.” said Energy PS, adding“We are closely monitoring the impact of these heavy rains and are prepared to take all necessary actions to ensure the safety of our people.
We have activated our emergency response systems and are working closely with local authorities to monitor the situation and provide timely updates.
This year’s situation is being described as historic, with rainfall intensities and catchment inflows exceeding seasonal norms.
KenGen has since activated its emergency communication protocols and is working in close collaboration with the National and County Governments’ disaster management teams, including the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, to ensure that affected communities receive timely information and support.
Beyond electricity generation, the Seven Forks dams play a critical role in flood control.
Together, the dams can hold over 2,321 million cubic meters of water, which accounts for more than 46% of the annual inflows from the Tana River.
The ability to retain large volumes of water significantly reduces the impact of heavy rainfall on downstream areas.
KenGen has been actively monitoring rainfall patterns, river flows, and dam levels.
The company is also intensifying community outreach, using media, local authorities, and on-ground teams to sensitize residents about safety actions to take, in the event of rising water levels.
“We remain committed to safeguarding the communities around us while maintaining the integrity of our infrastructure.
Our role goes beyond power generation, it’s about being a responsible partner to the people and the environment,” Eng. Njenga affirmed.
KenGen will continue to monitor and issue regular updates for residents, local leaders, and stakeholders to remain alert, observe caution, and cooperate with official advisories.
