Kamburu power station was the 2nd major power station in independent Kenya after Kindaruma power station. It was commissioned in 1974 and three installed vertical Francis turbines. The spillway has three radial gates and one flap gate.

The station comprises three units each with a capacity of 31. MW. Its reservoir capacity (F.S.L) is 150 million cubic metres.

Full feasibility studies were started in mid 1960’s and they confirmed the viability of an upper reservoir for the Seven Forks cascade hydropower complex with a potential of about eleven power plants namely Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, Kiambere, Karura, Mutonga, Low Grand Falls, Usheni, Adamsons Falls, and Kora. The first five were developed between 1968 and 1988 while the remaining six are awaiting implementation.

The actual site of the Kamburu plant was selected at about 160km from Nairobi via Nairobi – Thika – Kangonde –Embu highway and about 50km from Embu town.
The cost of the plant was about USD 47 million (KShs. 344 million) and the project took seven years from feasibility studies to construction. The ground breaking for the construction work was done on 29th June 1971 and commissioning of the plant took place on 5th July 1974.