Kenyans can expect a sweet reprieve from high electricity bills as the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) ramps up hydropower production, leveraging near-record water levels in the country's key dams.
"We are happy to report that we are receiving very good inflows from the Mount Kenya and Aberdares catchment areas, leading to high water levels at our dams," announced Eng. Peter Njenga, KenGen's Managing Director and CEO.
"This will see Kenyans reap the full benefit of cheaper electricity."
This positive outlook stems from the impressive performance of the Seven Forks Cascade, a series of dams that have reached some of their highest water levels in recent history.
Masinga Dam, the largest in the country, has been particularly impressive, maintaining near-maximum levels of 1,056 meters above sea level for the past three days.
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This abundance of water has translated into a significant boost in hydropower generation.
Over the last 24 hours, KenGen's power stations at the Seven Forks recorded a peak output of over 471 MW, a significant contribution to stabilizing grid-scale electricity costs.
While the rising water levels might raise concerns about potential flooding, KenGen has moved to reassure residents living downstream of the dams.
"Despite getting close to the maximum water levels at the Masinga Dam which is our biggest, we have not reached spilling level thanks to a robust water management program being implemented by our engineers," explained Njenga.
"We however remain vigilant and will issue an alert should we envision a potential water overflow from the large dams."
KenGen also highlighted that reduced inflows observed in the last week further solidify the assurance that the dams are unlikely to overflow in the near future.
This development aligns perfectly with KenGen's commitment to providing competitively priced and reliable electricity, a crucial driver for Kenya's continued economic growth.
With hydropower taking centre stage, Kenyans can look forward to a brighter and more affordable future, powered by the country's natural resources.