The government has issued a flood warning for residents living around the Seven Forks Dams. These dams, including Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere, are at risk of overflowing and spilling over into adjacent areas within the next 24 hours.
Isaac Mwaura, the government spokesperson, stated, "All the dams under the seven forks dams are now at total capacity, and there is a prediction of a massive overflow downstream within the next 24 hours.”
He added, “Residents in these areas are advised to move to higher grounds."
These dams, constructed to harness the potential of the Tana River, are situated at Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere. Each of them has a power station.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki warned last week that continuous rainfall in the Tana River and River Thiba catchment areas could lead to significant flooding downstream.
He highlighted the risk to areas such as Garissa, the Tana Delta, and Lamu.
"Security and Intelligence Teams are directed to work with counties to monitor and report situations, and to support interventions to ensure mitigation against loss of human or livestock life and destruction of property. Should the situation demand, the Government will issue mandatory evacuation orders in specific areas in the interest of public safety," stated Kindiki.
According to Mwaura, 76 people have lost their lives, with six deaths occurring in the last 12 hours. Additionally, 131,450 individuals have been displaced.
“The government sends its sincere condolences to their families and loved ones. 29 Kenyans have been injured, and 19 missing persons have been reported. Nairobi is currently experiencing the highest impact, with a significant death toll of 32 and 16,909 households displaced. The Kenya Coast Guard, National Police Service, and Kenya Defense Forces are collaborating to step up search and rescue services,” stated Mwaura.
Mitigating Flood Risks
The dams were constructed to regulate downstream floods. When one dam reaches capacity, excess water flows through the Tana River to the next dam until all five dams are filled.
The Seven Forks water catchment areas comprise Rivers Sagana, Mathioya, Maragua, Thika, and Chania, which converge in Murang'a to form River Tana.
The first Dam, Masinga, has a capacity of 1.56 billion cubic meters, while Kamburu holds 150 million cubic metres. Gitaru has a capacity of 20 million cubic metres, Kindaruma 12 million cubic metres, and Kiambere 585 million cubic metres. Masinga's reservoir occupies a surface area of 120 km2.
The dams are named Seven Forks from the seven tributaries that the rivers split into between Gitaru and Kindaruma Dams.
Kindaruma, the oldest of the five dams, was built in 1968 and can produce 72MW of power. Kamburu, commissioned in 1974, generates up to 94MW of power.
Masinga, commissioned in 1981, generates 40MW of electric power, while Kiambere, commissioned in 1988, has an installed capacity of 168MW. Gitaru, built in 1978, generates 225MW of power.
