Our History
Ol'Kalou Water and Sanitation Company (OLWASCO) was initially a Government of Kenya Gazetted urban water supply scheme started in 1973 with only one borehole at the centre of Ol'Kalou town. The borehole was abandoned but rehabilitated in 1993, and since then the boreholes have grown from one to twelve.
On 1 July 2006, OLWASCO's assets and operations were handed over to the Rift Valley Water Services Board (RVWSB) in accordance with the Water Act 2002 institutional reorganisation. RVWSB licensed Ol'Kalou Water and Sanitation Company Limited as a Water Service Provider (WSP). OLWASCO was formally incorporated in 2005 and registered under CAP 486 of the Laws of Kenya.
Under the Water Act 2016, water and sanitation services were devolved to county governments. Nyandarua County Government established two water service providers: Nyandarua Water and Sanitation Company (NYANDAWAS) and Olkalou Water and Sanitation Company (OLWASCO). OLWASCO is licensed to provide water and sanitation services in Ol'Kalou Constituency.
Geographical Coverage
OLWASCO's head office is located at Ol'Kalou town β the headquarter of Nyandarua County β along the OlkalouβNjabini tarmac road, 800 metres from Juakali junction off the NyahururuβGilgil main road.
The company covers the five wards of Ol'Kalou Constituency: Ol'Kalou Ward, Kaimbaga Ward, Rurii Ward, Milangine Ward and Kanjuiri Ridges Ward β an area of 536 kmΒ², of which the service area covered is 225 kmΒ². Of the service area, 10 kmΒ² is in Ol'Kalou Township and 215 kmΒ² is in the rural area. Customers include domestic, commercial, institutional and government customers.
Legal Mandate
OLWASCO draws its mandate from Section 78 of the Water Act 2016, which identifies the responsibilities of water service providers, including:
- Provision of water services within the area specified in the licence
- Development of County Assets for water service provision
- Acting as an agent of the County Government of Nyandarua to deliver water services as per the operating licence
- Exercising overall control over sources and supply of water within the service area, including conserving, redistributing and augmenting water resources
- Levying charges from consumers in respect of services provided
- Managing assets handed over by County and National Governments in the best interest of the people of Nyandarua County
OLWASCO is regulated by the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) and falls under the oversight of the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (CRVWWDA).
Key Performance Indicators (WASREB Impact Report 17)
| KPI | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2030 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Coverage (%) | 38 | 39 | 65 |
| Drinking Water Quality (%) | 32 | 62 | 100 |
| Hours of Supply (hrs/day) | 18 | 19 | 22 |
| Revenue Collection Efficiency (%) | 98 | 100 | 96+ |
| Non-Revenue Water (%) | 37 | 35 | 28 |
| Metering Ratio (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| O&M Cost Coverage (%) | 92 | 84 | 120 |
| Staff Productivity (per 1,000 conn.) | 14 | 13 | 9 |
Strategic Plan 2026β2030 Budget
| Strategic Priority | Budget (KES Million) |
|---|---|
| Expand Water and Sanitation Access and Coverage | 1,004.95 |
| Improve Operational Efficiency | 265.95 |
| Enhance Financial Sustainability | 78.80 |
| Improve Access in Low Income Areas | 5.75 |
| Elevate Customer Experience | 16.00 |
| Boost Employee Performance | 5.80 |
| Corporate Governance and Image | 20.80 |
| TOTAL BUDGET | 1,397.05 |