Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has urged residents living around Masinga Dam to move to safety on higher grounds.
This comes barely a day after the government warned that the dam would overflow by this Friday following the ongoing heavy rains.
Mutua said the dam contains a huge volume of water hence it would be a serious disaster if it breaks its banks as anticipated by experts.
He addressed the press at his office in Machakos town on Wednesday.
“Those living near Tana River, let’s move away from the river because if the dam overflows it will be a huge amount of water,” Mutua said.
Mutua asked chiefs, sub-chiefs and county officials in Masinga area to inform residents that the dam may overflow.
“I want chiefs, sub-chiefs, village administrators and my county officials to inform everybody that Masinga Dam may overflow, so let them stay safe,” he added.
The warning comes barely a week after the Solai Dam tragedy which led to the death of around 46 residents with over 300 families homeless after their homes were swept away by raging waters from the private dam.
Energy CS Charles Keter on Wednesday said at a press briefing in Nairobi that Masinga Dam which is among the largest dams in the country is currently at 1055.53 meters above the sea level revealing it fills up at 1056.5 meters.
“The inflows are huge and worrying, we expect Masinga Dam to spill over between now and Friday,” Keter said.