Nairobi: Kenyan households and businesses could benefit from lower power costs after Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) reported strong water levels across its Seven Forks Dams and other hydro power stations across the country, lifting hydropower generation.
According to Kenya News Agency, KenGen’s April dispatch reports indicated that the company’s main hydros produced 11.7 million kilowatt-hours on April 28, surpassing a projection of 10.95 million kilowatt-hours. The Eastern Block contributed significantly to this output, generating about 9.13 million kilowatt-hours against a projection of 8.05 million kilowatt-hours.
The company’s latest reservoir readings show a hydro system operating at or near optimal levels. On April 28, Masinga stood at 1,056.54 meters, Kamburu at 1,006.07 meters, Gitaru at 923.69 meters, and Kindaruma at 780.28 meters, all above their minimum operating levels.
KenGen’s Acting Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Issack, stated that strong reservoir levels averaging about 99 percent of operating capacity allow the company to maximize hydropower generation, the cheapest source of electricity on Kenya’s grid. This situation provides the country with greater flexibility to expand renewable supply while reducing reliance on more expensive thermal generation.
KenGen emphasized that maintaining strong hydro output helps moderate overall power costs, protecting consumers and industry from price shocks, and reinforces grid stability. The company also addressed concerns among communities living downstream of the Seven Forks cascade, assuring that high dam levels do not translate to unmanaged flooding risk.
KenGen assured Kenyans that its engineers manage a robust water management program designed to keep reservoirs within safe operating ranges. Even when Masinga nears maximum levels, the company does not expect uncontrolled spilling as long as inflows remain manageable.
The April dispatch data supports the message of control rather than alarm. The daily reports consistently described the key hydro units as healthy, showed no broad pattern of emergency generation being required, and reflected steady performance across the cascade, culminating in one of the month’s strongest hydro output days on April 28.
Mr. Issack reiterated that the combination of healthy reservoir levels, prudent water management, and reliable hydropower generation enables KenGen to sustain affordable, clean electricity for homes and businesses while protecting downstream communities. Responsible water stewardship remains central to both energy security and public safety.
