Reservoir Dams in Embu
Kamburu Dam: A Confluence Point
The 15 km2 Kamburu Dam, commissioned in 1975, generates 95 MW to the national grid. The dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 47 meters (154 feet) and a length of about 200 meters (656 feet). Masinga Dam, built upstream, also ensures Kamburu has a steady water supply. Power is generated by releasing water from the reservoir through turbines, driving the generators. The water discharged from the station flows down a 3040 ms long tailrace tunnel before doubling back to River Tana River and further down into Gitaru Dam.
As Kenya’s energy demand grows, renewable energy sources like Kamburu and its peers along the Seven Fork Project are seeking ways to expand, to keep up. Keeping in line with Kenya’s mission to promote renewable energy and mitigate climate change, Kengen, has had to look for innovative ways of enhancing energy security. In 2013, in line with Kenya’s ambitions of growing renewable energy, KenGen, who operate the station, began plans of installing a 40MWp floating solar PV power plant, which would make it Kenya’s first grid-level floating solar plant
The ecosystem of Kamburu Dam comprises of small hills with bristly vegetation and scattered woody of acacia. At hand is also the confluence point of Rivers Tana and Thiba. Mwea National Reserve is contiguous along the northwest limit of Kamburu Dam. While the benefits of Kamburu are a great many in meeting the national neds, its existence has also had environmental and social implications for the surrounding area. It has led to changes in river flow, altered ecosystems, and displacement of communities living in the reservoir area. And crocodiles, too!
Kenya’s power generation mix includes both renewable and non-renewable. Historically, hydropower has been the dominant source of electricity in Kenya. Next to this, Kenya is known for its significant geothermal resources, particularly along the Rift Valley. To keep with its mission of 100% renewable energy, Kenya has been investing in wind and solar energy projects to diversify its power mix.
Index of Power Generation Mix in Kenya
Hydro I Embu County - Gitaru Power Station, Kamburu Power Station, Kiambere Power Station, Karura Power Station, Kindaruma Power Station, Masinga Power Station, Homa Bay County - Sondu Miriu Power Station, Kirinyaga County - Tana Power Station, Kisumu County - Sang’oro, Migori County - Gogo Power Station, Nyeri County - Sagana Power Station, West Pokot County - Turkwel Gorge Power Station
Geothermal I Nakuru County - Olkaria Power Plant I, Olkaria Power Plant II
Wind I Kajiado County - Ngong Hill Power, Marsabit County - Lake Turkana Power
Thermal I Kisumu County - Muhoroni Power Plant, Mombasa County - Kipevu Power
Solar I Garissa County - Garissa Power Plant, Selenkei Solar Farm, Cedate Solar Plant, Alten Solar Power, and Malindi Solar Plant, Kisumu Solar One PV Park, Kopere Park
Kenya has several reservoir dams that play a consequential roles in water supply, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control, and other water-related activities. The most famous of these are Seven Forks Dams along the Tana River. While reservoir dams are critical infrastructure projects that contribute to Kenya’s economic development, they are also visually stunning go-to destinations.
Index of Dams in Kenya
Baringo County - Chemususu Dam, Kirandich Dam, Bungoma County - Chwele Dam, Muyayi Dam, Makhonge Dam, Kabuchai Dam, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Kimwarer Dam, Arrow Dam, Chebara Dam, Embu County - Gitaru Dam, Kamburu Dam, Masinga Dam, Kiambere Dam, Kindaruma Dam, Kajiado County - The Kiserian Dam, Kericho County - Chemusot Dam, Dimbolil Dam, Londiani Dam, Kiambu County - Ruiru Dam, Thika Dam, Kirinyaga County - Thiba Dam, Kwale County - The Mukurumudzi Dam, Nyalani Dam, Machakos County - Maruba Dam, Makueni County - The Mulima Dam, Mannoni Dam, Katilini, Ndukuma Dam, Thwake Dam, Migori County - Kebharisia Dam, Muranga County - The Ndakaini Dam, Maragua Dam, Mathioya Dam, Nairobi County - Nairobi Dam, Nyamira County - Bonyunyu Dam, Nyandarua County - Matches Dam, Sasamua Dam, Nyahururu Dam, Nyeri County - Chinga Dam, Wanjii Dam, Uasin Gishu County - Kesses Dam, Two Rivers Dam, West Pokot County - The Turkwel Gorge Dam
outlook
Situated at the base of Mount Kenya, Embu County offers a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and adventure activities, making it a rewarding destination for travelers seeking an authentic experience in the central highland of Kenya. Engage with the Aembu and Mbeere people, who inhabit the region, and learn about their traditional way of life, like farming practices, music, and dance.
You Are Here: Kamburu Dam
Where to Next?
Explore Destinations Near Kamburu Dam
A Guide to Embu County
A Summa Digest of Embu
About Embu Way Back When
32 Destinations in Embu County, arranged as one would visit these - south, west, east then south - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mwea Rice Plains, Ndaraca ya Ngai, Embu Art Centre, Izaak Walton Inn, Iveche Falls, Karunina Falls, Njukiri Forest, Camp Ndunda Falls, Mount Kenya Riverside Retreat, Embu Golf Range, Murinduko Hill Forest, Karue Hill, Kirimiri Forest, Nthenge Njeru Falls, Nthungu Falls, Nthenge Njeru Hiking Trail, Irangi Forest Station, Mzima Fishing Camp, Kaagari-Gaturi Irrigation, Thuci River Lodge, Mbeere Terraces, Kiang’ombe Forest, Mumoni Hill, Kianjiru Hill, Mwea National Reserve, Kamburu Dam, Riakanau Beach, Masinga Dam, Masinga Dam Resort, Gitaru Dam, Kindaruma Dam, Kiambere Dam
Know More About Embu County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Embu County is exemplified by its sharply defined uplands, lowland and slopes from the north, northwest towards the east and southeast, with a few isolated landmark hills such as Kiambere and Kiang’ombe.
Embu has a typical highland profile, on the windward side of Mount Kenya, with cold and wet upper zones to hot and dry lower zones in Tana River Basin. Temperatures range betwixt 20o and 30oC.
