List of Dams in Kenya 2025: Major Reservoirs, Locations & Water Projects
BeyondForest- Dec 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Masinga Dam, the largest reservoir in the Tana River cascade with a full supply level of 1056.50mASL mASL stands for "meters above sea level." It means how high something (like the water level in a dam) is compared to the average level of the sea.
Image of Kariminu Dam In Thika By Keith Angana
Kenya has numerous dams serving various purposes, including water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and recreation. The country's geography, particularly the presence of major rivers and a semi-arid climate in some regions, has necessitated the construction of these dams.
Ndakaini dam in Muranga is the biggest supplier of Nairobi's water (approximately 84%)
Dam | Location | Size | Source |
Masinga Dam | Embu and Machakos | 1.56 billion cubic meters. | Tana River |
Kindaruma Dam | Embu County | 16 million cubic meters. | Tana River |
Kiambere Dam | Embu County | 585 million cubic meters. | Tana River |
Gitaru Dam | Embu County | Tana River | |
Nyandarua County. | 16.9 million | ||
Ndakaini Dam (Thika Dam) | Murang’a County, | 70 million cubic meters. | Thika River |
Turkwel Dam | West Pokot County | 1.6 billion cubic meters | Turkwel River |
Kamburu Dam | Embu County | 150 million cubic meters. | Tana River. |
Sondu-Miriu Dam | Kisumu County | Sondu River | |
Mwea Dam | Kirinyaga County | ||
Chemususu Dam | Baringo County | ||
Kiserian Dam | Kajiado County | ||
Chebara Dam | Elgeyo-Marakwet County. | ||
Kariminu Dam | Thika | 26 Million Cubic meters | Thika River |
411 on Dams In Kenya
Masinga Dam
Masinga Dam is designed and built to safely handle fluctuations in water levels, including moments when it slightly exceeds its Full Supply Level (FSL) of 1056.50 meters above sea level (mASL). The dam was engineered with safety margins and spillway mechanisms to handle excess inflows
Image of Masinga Dam By The Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA)
Masinga Dam, located on the Tana River in Kenya’s Eastern Province, is a key component of the Seven Forks Hydro Stations managed by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). Constructed between 1978 and 1981, the dam serves multiple purposes, primarily hydroelectric power generation, water regulation, and flood control. It stands at 60 meters high and spans a reservoir with a surface area of approximately 120 square kilometers, making it Kenya’s largest reservoir by volume.
Masinga Dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of the Tana River, ensuring steady water levels downstream for the operation of other dams like Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere. Its hydroelectric plant has an installed capacity of 40 megawatts, contributing significantly to Kenya’s energy supply. Beyond power generation, the dam supports irrigation schemes and provides water for domestic and industrial use in surrounding communities. It also plays an essential role in flood mitigation during Kenya's rainy seasons.
Ndakaini Dam
Image of Ndakaini Dam By Karori Tours
Ndakaini Dam, also known as Thika Dam, is a major water reservoir located in Murang’a County, about 80 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, Kenya. Constructed in the early 1990s and completed in 1994, the dam was developed to address the growing water needs of Nairobi.
Image of Ndakaini Dam By Peter Ndungu
Ndakaini Dam sits on the Thika River, a tributary of the Tana River, and has a storage capacity of approximately 70 million cubic meters, making it the primary water source for the capital. The dam covers an area of about 4 square kilometers and plays a critical role in supplying over 70% of Nairobi’s potable water. Managed by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, Ndakaini Dam is surrounded by a catchment area rich in forests, which helps maintain high water quality.
Image of Kariminu River Catwalk Way By Antony Kiai
Locally known as Karemino dam was constructed at Kanyoni in Gatundu North around 2020 to supplement Ndakaini Dam to the ever thirsty Nairobi metropolis.
Kariminu Dam is a strategic water supply project located in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, Kenya. Commissioned in 2022, the dam was constructed to address water shortages in Nairobi, Ruiru, Juja, and surrounding areas. Built on the Kariminu River, a tributary of the Thika River, the dam has a storage capacity of approximately 26 million cubic meters. It is part of the government’s Vision 2030 initiatives to enhance urban water infrastructure. The project includes a water treatment plant, intake tower, and extensive pipeline network.
Siltation
Reduced storage capacity due to sediment accumulation.
Climate Change
Variability in rainfall affects water availability.
Inadequate Maintenance
Poor upkeep leads to reduced efficiency and safety risks.
Construction sometimes displaces local populations, leading to conflicts.
Loss of biodiversity and disruption of natural ecosystems.
Image of a Masinga Dam Event Hosted By Escape With Us
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