Lamu County is located in the Northern Coast of Kenya and is one of the Six Coastal Counties in Kenya. It borders Tana River County in the southwest, Garissa County to the north, Republic of Somalia to the northeast and the Indian Ocean to the South. It lies 1° 40’ and 2° 30’south and longitude 40° 15’ and 40° 38’south. The county has a land surface of 6,273.1 km that include the mainland and over 65 islands that form the Lamu Archipelago. The total length of the coastline is 130 km while land water mass area stands at 308 km.
The county has 2 constituencies namely Lamu West and Lamu East. These two also consist of the two districts referred to as the sub-counties in Lamu County. Lamu West has Amu Mkomani, Shela, Hindi, Mkunumbi, Hongwe, Bahari and Witu Divisions while Lamu East has Faza, Basuba and Kiunga divisions. There are 10 wards, 23 locations, and 38 sub-locations in the county.
The main economic activities in the county include crop production, livestock production, fisheries, tourism and mining, most notably quarrying. Among the challenges facing Lamu is population growth owing to migration into Lamu from other parts of the country, fuelled partly by the anticipated opportunities accruing from the Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. Other challenges include landlessness and poor land management, insufficient social services such as healthcare and education, inadequate supply of piped and fresh water, under-developed infrastructure, and food insecurity.
There are extensive mangrove forests in the area.
| Constituency | Land Area (km2) |
|---|---|
| LAMU WEST | 54.7 |
| Mkomani | |
| Hindi | |
| Mkunumbi | |
| Hongwe | |
| Bahari | |
| Witu | |
| LAMU EAST | 79.2 |
| Basuba | |
| Kiunga | |
| 6273.1 | |
| Source: Lamu County CIDP 2013-2017[3] |
| Administrative divisions | |
| Division | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Amu | Lamu |
| Faza | Faza |
| Hindi | |
| Kiunga | Kiunga |
| Kizingitini | Kizingitini |
| Mpeketoni | Mpeketoni |
| Witu | Witu |
| Total | – |
| * 1999 census. Sources |
Demographics
The county is made of cosmopolitan population composed of indigenous communities made of Swahilis, Arabs, Koreni, Boni and Ormas and migrant communities from the rest of the country. The county has a total population of 143,920 of which76,103 are males 67,813 females and 4 intersex persons. There are 37,963 household with an average household size of 3.7 persons per household and a population density 23 people per square kilometre
The LAPSSET project is expected to attract a huge migrant population estimated to be over one million. This will certainly overstretch the county’s social services necessitating commensurate development planning for adequate service provision
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 42,299 | — |
| 1989 | 56,783 | +34.2% |
| 1999 | 72,686 | +28.0% |
| 2009 | 101,539 | +39.7% |
| 2019 | 143,920 | +41.7% |
| source: |
Administrative and Political Units
Administrative Units
There are two sub counties, seven divisions, twenty three locations and thirty nine nine sub-locations.
Political Units
There are two constituencies and ten county assembly wards.
Constituencies
- MP – Hon. Muthama, Stanley Muiruri Lamu West Constituency
- MP – Hon. Ali, Sharif Athman Lamu East Constituency
Source
Political Leadership
Fahim Yasin Twaha is the second governor and is deputised by Abdulhakim Aboud Bwana Governor First elected governor for the county was Issa Timamy. Anuar Loitiptip is also the second elected senator after Abu Chiaba. Ruweida Mohamed Obo is the women representative and was elected in 2017, before her was Shakila Abdalla who was elected in 2013.
For Lamu County, the County Executive Committee comprises:-
| Number | |
|---|---|
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The CEC Members | 10 |
| Total | 13 |
Source
Education
There are 203 ECD centres 139 primary schools and 25 secondary schools. The county has also 58 adult training institutions, 6 vocational training centres, 3 university campus,
List of Secondary Schools in Lamu County
1. Lamu Boys Secondary School – Boys Day & Boarding – 6104101
2. Lamu Girls Secondary School – Girls Day & Boarding – 6104102
3. Mokowe Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 6104103
4. Hindi Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104104
5. Mpeketoni Secondary School – Mixed Boarding – 6104201
6. Hongwe Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104204
7. Bahari Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104205
8. Uziwa Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104206
9. Mkunumbi Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104207
10. Witu Secondary School – Mixed Day & Boarding – 6104301
11. Witu Mjini Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6104302
12. Faza Secondary School – Mixed Day – 6118101
Health
There are a total of 45 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. County has 316 health personnel of different cadre.[23]
HIV prevalence is at 3.5% below the national 5.9%.
Transport and Communication
The county is covered by 923.07 km of road network. of this 718.66 km is covered by earth surface,198.41 km is murram surface and 6 km is covered by bitumen.
There are 5 Post Offices with 1,250 installed letter boxes, 653 rented letter boxes and 597 vacant letter boxes.
Trade and Commerce
There are 9 trading centres, 606 registered businesses, 465 licensed retail traders, 7 supermarkets, 27 licensed wholesale traders and 98 registered hotels.
Villages and settlements
- Ankish
- Arosen
- Ashuwei
- Bajumwali
- Barigoni
- Bodhei
- Bora Imani
- Chundwa
- Dodori
- Duldul
- Hidio
- Junja
- Milimani East
- Milimani West
- Oseni
- Pandanguo
- Rubu
- Chalaluma
