Wajir County

Wajir is a Borana word that means coming together, bequeathed to this part of the country because of the different clans and pastoral communities that used to congregate in areas around Wajir town to water their animals from the abundant and dependable shallow wells that characterize the general land geomorphology.

Due to its centrality to all major town in the region, With its abundant water resources and shallow wells and high human traffic, the British officially established Wajir Town in 1912, to serve as their colonial headquarters. The town Wajir town is now one of the oldest in Kenya after Malindi and Mji wa Kale in Mombasa.

Its Centennial Anniversary was marked in 2012 with week longweek-long celebrations amid much pomp and colour. Wajir County is located in North Eastern Kenya and borders Mandera County to the North and North East, Somalia to the East, Garissa County to the South and South West, Isiolo County and Marsabit County to the West and Ethiopia to the North West.

It covers an area of 56,685.8Km2 according to the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census. Its capital is Wajir Town.

According to the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census the population was 661,941 with a population density of 12 people per Km2and an annual growth rate of 3.7%.

Age Distribution was; 0-14 years 51.8% with the economically productive age of 15-64 years standing at 45.9% with those aged above 65 years accounting for 2.2% of the total population.

Wajir has a mean annual temperature of 28°C with rainfall amounts ranging between 250mm and 700mm per annum in different parts of the county.

The total length of all classified roads in the county is 1,881.2Km with gravel surface covering 63Km and the rest being earth roads measuring 1,818.2Km.

As at 2007, the County had 125 Primary schools with an enrolment of 28,481 pupils and a teacher to pupil ratio of 1:58 and 17 Secondary schools with an enrolment of 2,908 pupils and a teacher to pupil ratio of 1:21.

There are 2 Commercial Banks and 2 Micro-Finance Institutions in the County.

Wajir County has 88 health facilities with 4 District Hospitals, 2 Sub-District Hospitals, 42 Dispensaries, 17 Health Centres, 21 Medical Clinics and 2 nursing homes.

Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, urinary tract infections, diarrhoea and malnutrition.

Notable Hospitals: Bute, Griftu, Habaswein, and Wajir Districts Hospitals.

The main economic activity is pastrolism with some agro-pastrolism and rain-fed agriculture being practised on a small scale basis in the northern higher altitude regions of the county.

The large tracts of land in the county provide the grazing pastures for the large camel and cattle herds present in the county with a high dependence on groundwater.

Harvesting undertaken from numerous wells, earth pans, dams and boreholes is made possible due to the high water table.

Other economic activities include trading and commercial businesses.

The county has solar and wind energy potential as well as mineral resources such as limestone and sand.

Electoral Wards