Villagers 'must' Move As Masinga Dam Reaches Highest Level, Overflows

Residents living near Masinga Dam and downstream along the Tana River are being urged to evacuate immediately as the dam has surpassed its capacity and is now overflowing, reaching its highest recorded levels on Thursday, according to Kengen.

In an official statement, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company reported that the water level at Masinga Dam rose to 1,058.22 meters above sea level on Thursday, exceeding its full supply capacity of 1,056.50 meters. This marks the highest level ever recorded, surpassing the previous record of 1,058.13 meters in May 2020.

The overflow, which began late last month, is expected to intensify significantly. Eng Peter Njenga, Managing Director of Kengen, stated that warnings were issued to villagers as early as November last year, predicting that the dam would reach its full supply capacity and overflow by April 2024, a prediction that has now materialized.

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Njenga emphasized the urgency for communities residing near the dam and along the Tana River to relocate to higher ground to prevent loss of lives and property. Particularly vulnerable are the communities in Mbondoni location, Kithecu, and Menguthe villages.

The flooding along the Tana River typically affects several counties including lower Embu, Kitui, Garissa, Tana River, and Kilifi. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that many villagers have already evacuated and are seeking shelter in schools. Urgent assistance in the form of food, medical supplies, and non-food items is needed in affected counties where search and rescue operations are ongoing, including Nairobi, Kirinyaga, Homa Bay, and Tana River.

Significant damage to public infrastructure has been reported in these regions. The Ministry of Interior highlighted the need for extensive post-flood recovery efforts, particularly in Taita Taveta, Kitui, and Tana River counties, including repairs to infrastructure, schools, water treatment systems, and roads.

Kengen anticipates that Masinga Dam’s water levels will remain high throughout the month due to ongoing rains forecasted by the Kenya Meteorological Department. Masinga Dam, situated on the border of Embu and Machakos counties, is part of the Seven Forks Cascade, which includes Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere dams. All these dams have reached their full supply capacity.

Njenga assured the public that there is no immediate risk of calamity at the Seven Forks dams due to their capacity to hold large volumes of water. Kengen continuously monitors the dams’ structures and has implemented comprehensive disaster preparedness measures to mitigate risks.

The dams play a crucial role in regulating river flows and mitigating downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water and releasing it gradually through power plants. Kengen is considering raising the height of Masinga Dam by 1.5 meters to increase its water storage capacity and further delay potential overflow during heavy rainfall events.

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