KenGen said the High Grand Falls project will boost power supply as Masinga Dam stands at about 99.7 percent of full capacity and well above minimum operating levels.
The firm said hydropower, its lowest-cost source, continues to stabilise tariffs and support reliable electricity generation nationwide.
The company said on Thursday that the 700-megawatt project aligns with Kenya’s push to expand affordable and clean energy capacity to support industrial growth and wider economic development.
KenGen’s remarks came during an inspection tour of the proposed site and the wider Seven Forks Cascade by the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi.
KenGen told the visiting delegation that current water levels across the Seven Forks system demonstrate the importance of prudent hydropower management.
As of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Masinga Dam was measured at 1,053.04 metres above sea level, just 3.04 metres below its full capacity of 1,056.5 metres.
This places the reservoir at nearly full capacity and comfortably above the minimum operating level of 1,037 metres.
The company confirmed that all hydropower plants within the Seven Forks Cascade remain structurally sound and operationally healthy, continuing to contribute optimally to the national grid even as the country experiences reduced inflows following below-average rainfall in key catchment areas.
KenGen Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Peter Njenga, described the High Grand Falls initiative as a strategic national investment and thanked the government for entrusting KenGen with its implementation.
“It marks the beginning of an important and transformative journey,” said Eng. Njenga. “I wish to thank the Government of Kenya, through our parent Ministry, for the confidence placed in KenGen and for the continued support extended to our mandate.”
According to KenGen, the proposed project will not only add significant generation capacity but also strengthen flood control along the lower reaches of the Seven Forks system, reducing downstream risks during periods of heavy rainfall while supporting stable electricity production.
During the visit, CS Wandayi commended KenGen’s management of hydropower resources and its readiness to maintain a stable power supply despite hydrological pressures.
“I am impressed by KenGen's professional approach to water resource management and their commitment to ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to the country,” Wandayi said.
KenGen reiterated that hydropower remains Kenya’s lowest-cost source of electricity, noting that its careful and disciplined deployment has helped support tariff stability, even during periods of reduced rainfall.
The company said this has been critical in cushioning consumers from sharp fluctuations in electricity costs.
Eng. Njenga added that KenGen’s wider generation portfolio continues to operate optimally. He said the company’s geothermal, wind and thermal stations, alongside other hydropower plants across the country, are contributing reliably to the national electricity supply and strengthening overall grid resilience.
The company said the High Grand Falls project fits into this diversified generation strategy, which seeks to balance affordability, reliability and sustainability.
The company emphasised that hydropower plays a central role in stabilising the grid while complementing other renewable and thermal sources.
Reaffirming its mandate, the company said it remains committed to delivering affordable, clean and reliable electricity in support of Kenya’s development aspirations, with the High Grand Falls Hydropower Project viewed as a key pillar of the country’s long-term energy security strategy.
