The government has revealed plans to raise the Masinga dam, in a bid to boost the country's energy capacity in the country.
Situated in Embu and Machakos County, Masinga Dam is among the seven hydro dams and is considered the country's largest reservoir on the Tana River.
The dam is a 60-meter-high, 2,200-meter-long, with a massive storage capacity of about 1.56 billion cubic meters, covering roughly 120 km².
Plans for its expansion were revealed by the National Environmental and Management Authority (NEMA) through a gazette notice dated January 2, which received an Environmental Impact Assessment Study Report for the proposal.
The project will involve raising the spillway wall of the dam by 1.5 meters and increasing the volume of water dammed and retained in the reservoir by 173 hm3.
Furthermore, the project will also involve the installation of a new spillway parallel to the current spillway to elevate the efficiency of the discharge capacity of the dam.
According to NEMA, the project is aimed at enhancing the flood capacity to regulate flooding downstream on the Tana River and generate more energy.
"Masinga Dam is one of the five dams that make up the Seven-Forks cascade of dams. This is due to its location in the upstream of the Seven-Forks cascade and the larger size of its reservoir," the notice read.
"The project’s immediate catchment traverses Embu and Machakos counties, while the expected extended zone traverses Kitui, Garissa, and Tana River counties," it added.
As part of environmental compliance, NEMA revealed some anticipated impacts of the project include occupational health risks and incidents, health hazards and diseases, increased social disturbance, high levels of noise and vibration, and vegetation degradation.
Contractors of the project will be required to deploy measures, including providing comprehensive safety training for workers, developing a site Impact Management plan, and implementing safe working procedures to prevent mishaps.
Other precautions that are expected to be taken include draining pits to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, to reduce health risks, and to develop a code of conduct for workers.
Workers will also be required to be trained on proper handling and storage of fuels, chemicals, and construction materials to prevent spills onto the soil, among other measures.
