This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
Published on August 24, 2020, the Turkwel Dam, a hydro-power generation facility commissioned in 1991, has never reached its full capacity of 1,150 metres above sea level in the past three decades.
With the water level currently at 1,145 metres, residents along the Turkwel Dam basin are gripped with fear as the Turkana County government warns of a possible spillover within the next week.
Heavy rains in Mt Elgon and Cherangani Hills catchments have been attributed to the rising waters in the dam, with the water level expected to spillover at 1,150 metres.
According to Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, the onset of rains in October 2019 has caused above-normal rainfall in most areas, leading to the dam filling up exponentially.
“We are providing alerts and sensitizing downstream communities to move to higher grounds should this trend worsen,” said Nanok.
