Gov’t assures Kenyans of safety, uninterrupted power as Seven Forks Dams overflow

Kenya's electricity supply will not be interrupted despite several major dams exceeding their capacity, top energy officials confirmed on Thursday.

As concerns mount over potential flooding, government representatives moved quickly to reassure consumers that Kenya Power will continue to receive sufficient hydroelectric generation from KenGen's overflowing dams.

Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira on Thursday led a high-profile inspection of the Seven Forks cascade facilities, where persistent heavy rainfall has pushed KenGen's major hydroelectric dams beyond their designed capacity, creating natural overflow conditions that began in late April.

The current situation represents an extraordinary weather event, according to KenGen's Managing Director and CEO, Engineer Peter Njenga, who detailed the extent of the overflow.

“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.

Despite these concerning developments, KenGen officials emphasized that the situation remains under control and is being closely monitored.

The visiting delegation, which included top energy ministry officials, provided reassurance that Kenya's electricity supply remains stable despite the challenges posed by the overflow.

"These unprecedented rainfall patterns actually present an opportunity for our hydropower generation capacity," remarked PS Wachira, highlighting that the ministry has implemented coordinated monitoring efforts with KenGen and relevant stakeholders.

"We've activated emergency response protocols and established communication channels with local authorities to ensure public safety remains the top priority," Wachira added.

The situation has underscored the dual purpose of Kenya's Seven Forks cascade - not only providing renewable energy but also serving as crucial flood control infrastructure. The five-dam system collectively holds over 2.3 billion cubic meters of water, managing nearly half of the Tana River's annual flow and substantially reducing downstream flooding potential during heavy rainfall seasons.

This built-in capacity has proven essential during the current weather pattern, which KenGen officials describe as "historic" in terms of both rainfall intensity and resulting water inflows.

Following the initial warning two weeks ago, KenGen has expanded its community outreach efforts, particularly focusing on populations downstream of Kiambere Dam. The power company has advised residents in vulnerable areas to relocate to higher ground as a precautionary measure.

"Our responsibility extends beyond simply generating electricity. We're committed to being responsible stewards of these water resources and protecting the communities that could be affected by changing conditions," Njenga stated.