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Tag: Masinga dam

  • One dead in Nairobi floods as dams fill up – Mwaura

    One dead in Nairobi floods as dams fill up – Mwaura

    Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has confirmed the death of a 29-year-old woman who was swept away by floodwaters in Zimmerman, Nairobi, as heavy rains continue to pound several parts of the country.

    In a statement, Mwaura said the incident occurred on April 28, 2026, at around 10:30pm near Turners Club, where the victim’s body was later discovered in a ditch.

    The body was taken to City Mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem examination, as investigations continue.

    Mwaura further warned that Masinga Dam was reported full as of Tuesday evening, April 28, prompting controlled water releases to ease pressure.

    Kamburu, Gitaru and Kindaruma dams are also under regulated discharge, while Kiambere Dam is expected to begin spilling within five days due to continued inflows from the Aberdares and Mount Kenya catchment areas.

    “These developments have heightened the risk of flooding downstream, particularly in Garissa and Tana River counties. The Government, through the National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC) and relevant agencies, continues to closely monitor the situation while coordinating preparedness and response efforts,” said Mwaura.

    He urged residents in low-lying areas in the two counties to move to higher ground immediately, as local authorities intensify evacuation efforts.

    Meanwhile, multiple flood-related incidents have been reported in the North Sub-Region, particularly in Kasarani Sub-County, where the Street 13 bridge towards Mwiki has been submerged by the swollen Gatharaini River, rendering it impassable.

    Several residential areas have also been affected, with about 20 houses flooded in Maanguo, 60 in the Maternity area and 30 in Muirigo.

    In Mwiki Location, the Nairobi River has swollen but remains within its banks, although flooding has been reported along the Njeri House-Nyawai Road stretch between ACK Streets 5 and 7.

    Mwaura said disaster response teams led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are managing the situation in Kasarani, as authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and adhere to official safety advisories.

    He added that the government will maintain continuous surveillance and provide updates, calling on residents to report emergencies swiftly and cooperate with response teams to mitigate the impact of the ongoing floods.

  • Masinga dam to overflow anytime as floods cut off key roads

    Masinga dam to overflow anytime as floods cut off key roads

    The government has issued a warning over a possible overflow of Masinga dam in the coming days as heavy rains continue.

    Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the country’s biggest dam will burst its banks in less than a week, exacerbating the situation in Tana River County, which has suffered the effects of flooding.

    “With the recent heavy rains, our hydroelectric dams, particularly Masinga, are receiving some substantial inflows. Masinga Dam is currently at 1,047.51 meters above sea level (mASL), against a maximum level of 1,056mASL. We still have about nine meters to reach maximum capacity for Masinga” he said.

    The CS who Friday conducted an inspection tour of KenGen seven Forks dams to assess the water levels inflows following the recent heavy rains urged Kenyans living downstream of River Tana to move immediately.

    “This means that we expect it will reach the maximum levels over the weekend or early next week should the rains persist. We, therefore, call on those living downstream to be on high alert and exercise caution and further urge those close to the river to consider moving to safer grounds to avert loss of life and minimize destruction of property” he cautioned.

    The dam feeds four other dams downstream which are almost full.

    The high-water inflows particularly being experienced in Kamburu dam which other than River Tana inflows also receives water from the Thiba River and is currently at 1,005.82 meters above sea level against a maximum capacity of 1,006.50.

    The Elnino rains expected to continue in the month of December and the first quarter of 2024 have already displaced thousands of residents in Garissa and Tana River counties.

    Some of the worst affected counties include Mombasa, Garissa, Tana River, Makueni, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Homa Bay, and Busia.

    According to Keny Red Cross, the floods have killed at least 71 people and displaced more than 150,000, a death toll that is feared to go up in the wake of another tragedy in Makueni Thursday night where seven people were swept away as they attempted to cross a swollen river.

    Three bodies have been recovered as the search and rescue operation continues.

    Several key roads have been cut off leaving passengers stranded.

  • KenGen steps up hydropower generation, to stabilize costs

    KenGen steps up hydropower generation, to stabilize costs

    Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has stepped up hydropower generation after the large dams in the Eastern Region recorded improved inflows over the past week on the onset of ongoing rains.

    The NSE-listed company said its operational boost at Seven Forks has been remarkable, with the power stations recording a peak demand of more than 476MW in the last 24 hours alone.

    At the same time, KenGen said it had seen improved water levels at Masinga Dam, which is Kenya’s largest, reaching water levels of 1,042.60 meters above sea level (mASL), surpassing the minimum operational level of 1,037mASL. This positive trend follows a substantial 18.50 millimeters of rainfall received in the area, enhancing the inflow from the Tana River into the dam.

    The company has consequently increased its generation from the lower dams notably Kamburu which also receives water from and River Thiba and Kiambere power station thereby improving the overall performance of the hydro power stations.

    “Despite the encouraging rainfall, the Masinga dam levels are still short of reaching their maximum water level of 1,056.50mASL,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Eng. Peter Njenga adding, “We do not expect Masinga to spill anytime soon as the water levels are ascending very slowly. We remain vigilant and will issue an alert should the dam levels approach spilling thresholds.”

    Eng. Njenga said KenGen remains vigilant and would issue an alert should the dam levels approach spilling thresholds. The current weather reports indicate that heavy rains are continuing across most parts of Kenya, with flooding incidents in regions such as the lower Tana River, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana, Meru, and parts of the Coastal area.

    In light of these developments, KenGen urges residents in the lower areas of River Tana to exercise caution. The KenGen CEO advised those in proximity to major rivers and dams to remain alert and relocate to higher grounds if necessary to prevent any potential loss of lives and property.