Director General, National Museums of Kenya, Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia and KenGen Managing Director and CEO Engineer Albert Mugo
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 8 – The Ndula hydro-power plant is set to be turned into a power generation museum, following an agreement between KenGen, KenGen Foundation and the National Museum of Kenya.
The 92-year-old power generation station was decommissioned in 2010 due to what KenGen termed as operational challenges.
“The station used equipment that is outdated, making it extremely expensive to operate,” KenGen Managing Director and CEO Engineer Albert Mugo said.
During its heydays, the Kiambu County-based power station was capable of producing 2 megawatts.
Once the plant is gazetted as a national heritage site as expected, it will become the first electric power production museum in East Africa.
As per the MoU, the partnership will involve conservation and management of the country’s heritage of electricity generation and conversion of the station into a museum through research, documentation, construction of necessary facilities, fabrication and curation of exhibition materials and preservation of the site and existing equipment.
“It will also involve the establishment of opportunities for education and training in heritage conservation and management as well as staff exchange and collaboration through training programs and workshops with special interest in evolution of power generation,” said Eng Mugo.
Additionally, the hydro-power plant and its associated external components like the dam, Thika River and the waterfalls, which will be part of the basic display areas, will be preserved with minimal changes so as to present them in the most authentic manner.
“We expect the Ndula museum to drastically cut on the influx of students and members of the public who seek to visit the Company’s power stations on a daily. The Museum will offer a better learning environment for those seeking to learn more about electric power generation complete with a historic touch,” Director General, National Museums of Kenya, Dr. Mzalendo Kibunjia said.
