The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has unveiled plans to rehabilitate the Masinga Dam and raise its spillway level by 1.5 metres in a move aimed at boosting electricity generation and improving flood control along the Tana River.
In a notice shared on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) disclosed that it has received an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Report for the proposed project.
“The proponent, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, intends to rehabilitate the Masinga Dam and raise the spillway level to generate more energy and better regulate flooding downstream along the Tana River,” NEMA stated.
Masinga Dam is one of the five dams forming the Seven Forks cascade and plays a critical role due to its upstream location and the large size of its reservoir.
KenGen Plans 1.5m Masinga Dam Spillway Raise
According to NEMA, the project’s immediate catchment area traverses Embu and Machakos counties, while the extended impact zone covers Kitui, Garissa, and Tana River counties.
The planned works involve raising the spillway wall by 1.5 metres, allowing more water to be dammed and retained in the reservoir, translating to a storage volume increase of approximately 170 cubic hectometres (hm³).
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KenGen also plans to install a new spillway fitted with Piano Key Weirs (PKWs) to enhance the dam’s discharge efficiency. The new spillway will be constructed parallel to the existing one, with excavation works and the construction of a new access road expected in Embu and Machakos counties.
NEMA is currently reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, and members of the public have 30 days from the date of publication of the notice to submit oral or written comments on the proposed project.
Anticipated Environmental and Social Impacts
According to the EIA report, the proposed project is expected to result in several impacts during construction and operation, including:
- Occupational health and safety risks to workers
- Increased road traffic and disruption around construction sites
- Generation of solid waste and potential soil contamination
- Water pollution from oils, fuels, and construction runoff
- Dust emissions, noise, and vibration from construction activities
- Effluent generation and discharge
- Increased social disturbance due to the influx of workers
- Vegetation degradation and disturbance of natural habitats
Proposed Mitigation Measures
To address the anticipated impact, the EIA outlines several mitigation measures, including:
- Development and enforcement of Safe Working Procedures, including working-at-height and permit-to-work systems
- Mandatory use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and comprehensive safety training for workers
- Implementation of traffic management plans, clear signage, and speed limits within construction zones
- Establishment of a comprehensive waste management plan, including segregation, collection, and proper disposal
- Installation of secondary containment systems for fuels and oils to prevent soil and water contamination
- Drainage measures to prevent stagnant water and control mosquito breeding
- Stormwater management systems to prevent polluted runoff into water bodies
- Routine servicing of machinery to control emissions and dust suppression measures at construction sites
- Controlled construction hours to minimise noise disturbance
- Re-vegetation and rehabilitation of disturbed areas, prioritising the use of native plant species
- Development and enforcement of a Code of Conduct for workers to minimise social conflicts and illegal activities
About Kenya Electricity Generating Company
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) is the leading electric power generating company in East Africa.
The company is also undertaking geoscientific assessments in several African countries to determine geothermal resource availability.
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KenGen’s strategy is to deliver affordable clean energy by creating value for shareholders while expanding energy sources and revenue streams.
In Kenya, KenGen has its tentacles spread across six operational areas – Olkaria and Eburru, Western, Kipevu, Seven Forks, Upper Tana, and Ngong. At the Geothermal area along the Rift Valley, the company has power plants and wellheads running as baseload energy sources in Olkaria and Eburru.
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