KenGen denies liability asserting that it is not responsible for Tana River flooding

Due to the recent heavy rains being occasioned in the Tana river delta region, the Tana river banks have busted and consequently occasioned flooding and displacement of locals living within the the Garissa Region. A few local leaders from the Garissa county area have stated that Kenya Electricity Generating company (KenGen) was responsible for the mess as it had opened its Seven Forks Spillways into the River Tana. However, KenGen has refuted this claims through one Julius Odumbe, the KenGen Eastern Regional Manager. In a statement made by the KenGen official, the East African top geothermal producing company asserted that neither did it open up the dams nor release water from them. The official uttered this remarks during a tour of the Seven Forks by a section of KenGen's shareholders, the Chairman Joshua Choge and the Managing Director, Ms Rebecca Miano. Mr. Odumbe remarked that the dams were yet to be filled to capacity despite the heavy downpour in the country. He added that KenGen had been unfairly blamed for allegedly opening its spillways and releasing water from the Seven Folks power dams located in Embu and Kirinyaga counties. “We don't have to release any surplus water now when such a need arises the company always alerts the people downstream before opening up the dams,” he said. Furthermore, Odumbe explained that Masinga dam had nine metres remaining before it was full to capacity. Ms Rebecca Miano also reassured the public that as a result of the ongoing heavy rains, the Company would continue monitoring the water levels in its dams across the country.

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) says it will continue monitoring water levels in its hydropower generating dams countrywide in order to ensure prudent management of dams during the on-going heavy rains season.
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— Metropol TV Kenya (@MetropolTVKE) November 8, 2019