Mandera County is a county in northeastern Kenya, bordering Ethiopia to the north, Somali to the east, and Wajir to the south. It is predominantly home to the Somali community, with a population of 983,000 (2024), making it the 28th largest county in Kenya. Covering an area of approximately 25,797 square kilometers, Mandera County features natural landscapes, including the Dawa River and vast deserts. The primary economic activities include pastoralism and agriculture, with a focus on livestock. The capital and largest town is Mandera.
Mandera County | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Mandera County in Kenya | |
| Coordinates: 3°25′00″N 40°40′00″E / 3.41667°N 40.6667°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Formed | 4 March 2013 |
| Capital and largest town | Mandera |
| Other towns | El Wak |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mohamed Adan Khalif |
| • Senator | Ali Roba |
| • Women Rep | Ummulkheir Kassim |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25,797.7 km2 (9,960.5 sq mi) |
| • Land | 25,797.7 km2 (9,960.5 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
| • Total | 983,000 |
| • Density | 38/km2 (99/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Website | www |
Citation: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
Climate
editThe county has a temperature range between 24C – 42C. Rainfall is very low and unreliable with annual average of 91.7mm annually. Long rains normally occur in April and May averaging 69.1mm while short rains in October and November averaging 122mm.[2]
Demographics
editThe Kenya Population and Housing Survey report (KPHC) 2009 showed that Mandera County had a population of 1,025,756 persons. This comprised 559,943 males (54.6%) and 465,813 females (45.4%). The county's population was projected to be 1,399,503 persons, comprising 763,966 males and 635,537 females in 2017.[3]
The county has a total population of 867,457 of which 434,976 are males, 432,444 females and 37 intersex persons. There are 125,763 household with an average household size of 6.9 persons per household and a population density 33 people per square kilometre 2020.[4]
It was also projected that the population would be 1,699,437 persons comprising 927,695 males and 771,742 females in the year 2022.
Like in other areas of North Eastern counties, Mandera is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Somalis.
Religion in Mandera County[5]
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 105,601 | — |
| 1989 | 123,787 | +17.2% |
| 1999 | 250,372 | +102.3% |
| 2009 | 1,025,756 | +309.7% |
| 2019 | 867,457 | −15.4% |
| source:[6] | ||
Administrative and political units
editAdministrative units
editThere are 7 sub counties, 22 divisions, 97 locations and 141 sub-locations.[7]
Sub-counties
editElectoral constituencies
editIt has 6 constituencies and 30 county assembly wards.[8]
- Mandera West Constituency
- Banissa Constituency
- Mandera East Constituency
- Lafey Constituency
- Mandera South Constituency
- Mandera North Constituency
Political leadership
editMohamed Adan Khalif is the governor in office after being elected and his deputy is DR Ali Moalim Mohamud.[9][10] Mahamud Mohamed M is the Senator who replaced Billow Kerow who was the first elected senator.[11][12] Amina Gedow is the second elected women representative who won against Fathia Mahbuub, the first women representative for the county.[13][14]
For Mandera County, the County Executive Committee comprises:[15]-
| Number | |
|---|---|
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The Members of County Assembly | 48 |
| Members of the CEC | 10 |
Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Mandera County)
edit- Hon Omar Mohamed – omar salla[16] of EFP Party Member o.f Parliament Mandera Constituency.[17]
- Hon. Hassan, Kulow Maalim[18] of EFP party Member of Parliament West Banisa Constituency.[19]
- Hon. Hassan, Omar Mohamed Maalim[20] of EFP Party Member of Parliament Mandera East Constituency.[21]
- Hon. Ibrahim, Abdi Mude[22] of EFP Party Member of Parliament Lafey Constituency.[23]
- Hon. Ali, Adan Haji[24] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Mandera South Constituency.[25]
- Hon. Abdullah, Bashir Sheikh[26] of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Mandera North Constituency.[27]
Members of the County Assembly
- Hon Saad Sheikh Ahmed (Abajano)[²⁶] EFP PARTY Member of County Assembly Fino Ward
- Hon Hussein Adan Haji(HajiHuska)[⁶] EFP PARTY Member of County Assembly Takaba South Ward
Health
editThere is a total of 83 health facilities in the county and 150 health personnel of different cadre.[28]
HIV prevalence is at 1.8%, below the national average of 5.3%.[29][30]
Transport and communication
editThe county is covered by 1,884.5 km of road network. Of this 1,390 km is covered by earth surface, 494.5 km is murram surface.[31]
There are 13 cyber cafes, 5 post offices installed letter boxes, 1150 rented letter boxes and 1100 rented letter boxes, and 50 vacant letter boxes.[32]
Trade and commerce
editThere are 32 trading centers, 127 licensed retail traders, 212 licensed hawkers and 10 petrol stations.[33]
| Urban Centre | 2022Population[34] |
|---|---|
| Mandera | 141,116 |
| El Wak | 59,000 |
| Rhamu | 56,185 |
| Takaba | 51,546 |
Mandera Town is the most densely populated urban area of the county, while Takaba is the least populated.
The town is the oldest and main urban section of the county and its high population is attributed to the residents' diverse economic activities. The town has small-scale traders; retailers, artisans, hoteliers, grocers and even cross-border traders.
County subdivisions
editAs of 2022, Mandera County is divided into 6 sub-counties:[1]
| Sub-county | Population | Pop. density | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandera South | 410,247 | 66 | El Wak |
| Mandera East | 296,281 | 106 | Mandera |
| Mandera North | 281,111 | 51 | Rhamu |
| Mandera West | 267,901 | 56 | Takaba |
| Bannisa | 261,891 | 78 | Bannisa |
| Lafey | 182,006 | 54 | Lafey |
Mandera East that hosts the county headquarters in Mandera Town is the most densely populated constituency with 106 persons per square kilometre. Mandera North is the least densely populated constituency with 42 persons per square kilometre, but which is projected to be 47 and 51 persons per square kilometres 2020 and 2022 respectively.
Electoral constituencies
edit| Constituencies of Mandera County[35] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Map | Constituency Names | Constituency No. | Approximate Population (2022) | ||
|
Mandera West | 39 | 267,901 | ||
| Banissa | 40 | 261,891 | |||
| Mandera North | 41 | 231,498 | |||
| Mandera South | 42 | 410,247 | |||
| Mandera East | 43 | 296,281 | |||
| Lafey | 44 | 182,006 | |||
References
edit- ^ a b "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I: Population by County and Sub-County". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ Mandera County Integrated Development Plan CIDP 2018-2022. Mandera County Government. 2018. p. 25.
- ^ Mandera Demographic
- ^ Munene, Evans (4 November 2019). "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Kenya: Administrative Division population statistics
- ^ "Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government". Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units" (PDF). IIBRC. 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Governors & Deputy Governors". cog.go.ke. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "H.E. Capt Ali Ibrahim Roba- Mandera County Governor – Mandera County". Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Members of the Senate | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Mohammed Maalim Mahamud". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Women Representatives | KEWOPA KENYA". Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Amina Gedow Hassan". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "179. County executive committees – Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)". klrc.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Omar Mohamed Maalim Hassan". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Hassan, Omar Mohamed Maalim | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Kulow Maalim Hassan". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Hassan, Kulow Maalim | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Omar Mohamed Maalim Hassan". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Hassan, Omar Mohamed Maalim | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Abdi Mude Ibrahim". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Ibrahim, Abdi Mude | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Adan Hajj Ali". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Ali, Adan Haji | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Bashir Sheikh Abdullah". Mzalendo. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Abdullah, Bashir Sheikh | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Manderacounty-Admin. "Health Services". County Government of Mandera. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2008-09" (PDF). Demographic Health Survey. 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Kenya HIV Estimates Report 2015" (PDF). National AIDS Control Council. 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Manderacounty-Admin. "Roads, Transport and Public Works". County Government of Mandera. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Publications". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Manderacounty-Admin. "Trade, Industrialization and Co-operative Development". County Government of Mandera. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "CIDP Marsabit 2018-2022". Maarifa Centre. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units". Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Retrieved 11 April 2019.