Water harvesting techniques in Disaster management: State of Dams in Kenya

Dams are essential infrastructure for water management, especially in regions that experience irregular rainfall or drought. They serve multiple purposes: controlling water flow, generating hydroelectric power, managing floods, and providing water for irrigation and domestic use. With the growing challenges of climate change and population growth, dams have become even more critical in ensuring water security. Key components of dams include Spillways which are structures designed to release excess water in a controlled manner, preventing overflows and reservoirs are water storage areas behind the dam, critical for water supply, irrigation, and power generation.

In Kenya, dams are a lifeline for both urban and rural areas. Major dams like Masinga Dam, Ndakaini (Thika) Dam, and Turkwel Gorge Dam serve multiple functions, including water supply, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. However, despite their importance, the state of many dams in Kenya is concerning due to weak regulation and inadequate maintenance.

The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) oversees the construction, rehabilitation, and management of dams in Kenya under the Water Act of 2016. However, many dams lack regular audits, leading to challenges such as poor maintenance and insufficient disaster preparedness. Kenya's Water Harvesting and Storage Regulations require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for any new dam projects, but enforcement is often weak, particularly for privately owned dams.

One of the most significant challenges Kenya faces is the poor follow-up and regulation of dam maintenance. Many dams, especially those managed by private entities, are not regularly inspected, creating safety risks, particularly during heavy rainfall or unexpected floods. Dams that are poorly constructed or maintained can pose serious dangers to the communities living downstream. Weak regulatory oversight means that many small, private dams escape scrutiny altogether. Despite the classification of waterworks into categories based on risk; low, medium, and high the actual enforcement of these guidelines often falls short. As a result, many high-risk dams are left vulnerable, especially during periods of excessive rainfall or when the dams' storage capacities are exceeded. This lack of regulation and consistent audits has led to devastating incidents, such as the Solai Dam tragedy in Nakuru County and the more recent flooding in Narok.

One of the most tragic reminders of the risks posed by poor dam regulation occurred in May 2018, when the privately-owned Solai Dam in Nakuru County collapsed after heavy rains. The dam, which had been poorly maintained, burst its banks, unleashing millions of liters of water downstream and killing over 40 people. Hundreds were displaced, and properties were destroyed. Subsequent investigations revealed that the dam had not undergone proper inspection or maintenance for years, highlighting severe lapses in regulatory enforcement.

Similarly, in January 2024, flooding in Narok caused by heavy rains overwhelmed several water management structures, resulting in widespread damage to homes and farms. This event underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive audit of Kenya’s dam infrastructure, especially in light of changing weather patterns caused by climate change.

These incidents reveal a pattern of weak enforcement of safety regulations, especially for smaller, privately-owned dams. In both the Solai Dam and Narok cases, the lack of regular inspections and maintenance directly contributed to the disasters. Moreover, the Solai tragedy also exposed gaps in Kenya's legal framework for holding dam owners accountable for neglect.

Kenya’s dam infrastructure faces multiple challenges that affect their safety and effectiveness. Many dams, especially those constructed decades ago, are aging and require significant rehabilitation to meet modern safety and operational standards. However, there is a lack of consistent maintenance, particularly for smaller and privately-owned dams. Inspections and audits are infrequent.Furthermore, the impact of climate change has spearheaded these issues. Increasingly extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, are putting additional strain on dam infrastructure. Heavy rainfall, like that which led to the recent Narok flooding, can overwhelm poorly maintained dams, while prolonged droughts can decrease the storage capacity of reservoirs, further complicating water management efforts.

The Water Harvesting and Storage Regulations aim to mitigate some of these challenges by requiring EIAs for new dam projects and categorizing waterworks based on risk. However, in practice, these regulations are not always enforced effectively. There is an urgent need for a national dam safety audit and stricter oversight, particularly for high-risk dams classified under Category "C".

To prevent future tragedies like the Solai Dam disaster and the Narok floods, Kenya must strengthen its dam safety regulations and ensure consistent audits and inspections. Furthermore, as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, there is a pressing need for better planning and infrastructure adaptation to manage these risks.

Dams remain critical for Kenya's water security, but without proper management and oversight, they can become a serious threat. With more all-inclusive regulation and a focus on sustainable water management, Kenya can harness the benefits of its dam infrastructure while minimizing the risks to communities.