NAIROBI, Kenya, October 8 – The construction of the High Grand Falls Dam along the River Tana is expected to cost Kenyan taxpayers between Sh323.3 million ($2.5 million) and Sh348 milliom ($2.7 million), according to the Ministry of Energy.
The project, once complete, will inject over 400 megawatts of electricity into the national grid by 2032, boosting the country’s power generation capacity and reducing dependence on hydropower imports.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Nyota Project launch in Nyeri, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira said consultations are ongoing to ensure the dam, being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), commences soon.
“We have a small issue with the initial proponent, GBM, but consultations are ongoing so that we can onboard a new partner to execute the project, which will cost between 2.5 and 2.7 billion dollars including power lines. It will be the largest, if not the second-largest, project after the SGR,” said Wachira.
Wachira noted that apart from providing clean energy, the dam will play a crucial role in mitigating perennial flooding in Garissa and Tana River counties.
“For decades, these two areas have experienced severe flooding due to the absence of dams in the lower Tana region. This project will help contain that challenge,” he added.
Conceptualised in 2009, the High Grand Falls Dam will cover 165 square kilometres and hold 5.6 billion cubic metres of water, enabling irrigation of more than 250,000 hectares of farmland.
Once completed, the dam will not only enhance food security and power generation but also serve as a major water storage facility for both domestic and industrial use.
The project is expected to be Kenya’s largest water storage facility and the second-largest dam in Africa, after Egypt’s Aswan High Dam, which spans 5,250 square kilometres on the River Nile.
