Due to low water levels at the country’s largest electricity generation Masinga Dam, Kenyans face the risk of higher electricity prices as the government mulls ramping up diesel generators.

The persistent drought has been blamed for the low water levels.

Masinga is essential in controlling water flow to the other four hydroelectric power units downstream due to its size. After touring the Masinga and Kamburu dams on Friday, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir told reporters that if the drought persisted, the government may start using pricey diesel to provide electricity.

Serious failure

“As you are all aware, for the last five years, we have had a serious failure in the rains and this has caused low water levels,” he said.

He said that hydro provides about 800MW, including those from the Turkwel and Sondu Miriu dams, with Masinga generating 40MW.

However, he claimed that despite limitations in the transmission cables between Kitale-Ortum and Turkwel, the water level there is slightly higher.

“The only challenge is that we might get power being slightly expensive because we are ramping up the diesel more than we ordinarily should be doing,” Chirchir said.

The CS  urged the Kindaruma, Gitaru, and Kamburu dam operators, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), to explore solar energy.

According to the CS, the government will shortly put into service the Ethiopian power link in the east, which is already receiving 200 MW from Ethiopia.

This comes at a time when Kenya Power had already applied to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority asking for a review of prices upwards.

There are concerns that the drought may persist this year in the Eastern part of Africa which could pose risks to water supply in the dams.

Higher power prices could lead to higher prices of manufactured goods as manufacturers pass over the higher operating costs to customers.