President William Ruto with traditional dancers at Ol Kalou area in Nyandarua county on April 3, 2025. /PCSThe national government will map all tourist attraction sites in Nyandarua county in a renewed attempt to boost tourism.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano made the announcement at Ol Kalou area during President William Ruto’s visit on Thursday.
She said the county is endowed with numerous sites that can be tapped to draw in both domestic and foreign tourists, raking in revenue for the county and national government.
“A big part of the Aberdare National Park is in Nyandarua county. There is also an arboretum and a very rich history. We will map all these sites so they can be developed and exposed to tourists,” she said.
The CS was responding to Governor Moses Kiarie’s request to the President to help expand the tourism sector that he said was grossly under-utilised in Nyandarua county.
The governor listed sites such as the Equator point and the 70 per cent of the Aberdare Forest that lies in the county.
He also cited the Happy Valley homes, also known as Wanjohi Valley, which is a small strip of land that is scenic and renowned for hosting white settlers during the colonial era.
Some of the structures that were built back then are still standing, offering an opportunity for them to be showcased as tourist attraction sites.
“Support us to upscale tourism and draw more tourists to our county,” the governor said.
Nyandarua county also hosts Lake Olbolosat, the only lake in Central Kenya that is the source of Ewaso Nyiro river, supporting the livelihoods of communities, livestock and wildlife in the dry Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo and Garissa counties.
The lake has a rich biodiversity that includes hippos and over 300 bird species, and lies within the central tourism circuit.
The President on his part noted that his administration has injected Sh50 million into Kinyahwe Museum that is being established by the county government to document and preserve Mau Mau history.
