The seven dams in the Seven forks hydro power station located on the S about 300km north east of Nairobi are on high alert with the potential of their overflow, according to Kenya Government.
People living in the lower part of the Tana River are on high alert owing to upward flowing waters due to heavy rains in the upper catchment have raised fears of imminent floods.
According to a report by ministery of interior, heavy rains in the upper catchment areas in the vicinity of Mount Kenya have led to sharp increases in inflows to the Seven Forks hydroelectric dams.
Major reservoirs such as Masinga Dam have shown substantial increases in water levels ahead of the weekend. To this end, targeted water releases have commenced at Kamburu Dam, Gitaru Dam and Kindaruma Dam to relieve stress on the reservoirs. However officials warn, “If the rains continue or Mount Kiambere Dam fills up there are fears that further spillage would lead to worse flooding downstream”.
The water levels are predicted to start rising steadily from the 29th of April and further rise predicted to occur by the 1st of May. The lower basin and the Tana Delta are likely to experience the flooding earlier. Peak risk day isEstimated to bebetween 2 nd May and 3 rd May.
It indicates the day where heavy rains may lead to a rise in river levels resulting to the danger of flooding in the defined flood prone areas such as Garsen Garsen Garsen inundate. Flood waters may overflow to flooded plains and delta.
