It straddles the border of Embu and Machakos counties in Kenya.

The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 72 megawatts (97,000 hp) power station.

It is Kenya's first post-independence hydroelectric power plant.

The power station is operated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company.

[3] In June 2012 a third Kaplan turbine-generator, rated at 24 MW, was commissioned.