This is a list of 7 forks dams in Kenya. 7 forks is a series of dams located in the upper Tana River basin. The dams are the main source of hydropower in Kenya.
The 7 forks dams are part of the River Tana Development Project. The project’s main aim was to construct 7 dams along the Tana River. Currently, only 5 dams have been constructed.
Here is a list of 7 forks dams in Kenya
1. Masinga Dam
Masinga Dam is an embankment dam and the main reservoir in the 7 forks scheme. It straddles the border of Embu and Machakos County. The dam has a height of 60 metres, a volume of 4,950,000 cubic metres and generates 40 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Its total capacity is 1,560,000,000 cubic metres.
2. Gitaru Dam
Gitaru Dam straddles the border of Embu and Machakos County. It has a height of 30 metres, a volume of 16,000,000 cubic metres and generates 225 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Construction of the dam started in 1975 and was completed in 1978.
3. Kamburu Dam
Kamburu Dam is a rock-filled embankment dam with a height of 52 metres, a volume of 123,000,000 cubic metres and generates 94.2 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Its construction began in 1971 and ended in 1975. It straddles the border of the counties of Embu and Machakos.
4. Kindaruma Dam
Kindaruma Dam is an embankment dam that straddles the border of the counties of Embu and Kitui. The dam has a height of 24m, a volume of 18,300,000 cubic metres and generates 72 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Its construction was completed in 1968.
5. Kiambere Dam
Kiambere Dam is an earth-filled embankment dam that straddles the border of the counties Embu and Kitui. The dam has a height of 30 metres, a volume of 585,000,000 cubic metres and generates 165 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Its construction began in 1983 and ended in 1987. The dam’s total capacity is 585,000,000 cubic metres.
Other Dams
The other two dams that were to be part of the 7 forks dams scheme have never been constructed to date.
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