Plans to build a hydropower dam on the Sondu Miriu river at a cost of Sh86 billion are at an advanced stage, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has said.
The reservoir with a capacity of 445 million cubic metres will be constructed near Magwagwa town in Nyamira County.
Mr Keter said the project will be fast-tracked to help boost power generation at the 60-megawatt Sondu Miriu plant which has been grappling with low water volumes due to persistent drought.
“The ultimate solution is to build a dam, and it is now urgent that we implement that project for stable and reliable power across the country,” he said.
The Magwaga dam could help push the Sondu power station to produce at full capacity and power another 115-megawatt station.
But Keter said KenGen is exploring the feasibility of pumping water already used in power generation back to sustain production as a measure against drops in river volumes.