Mandera County (Somali: Mandheera) is a county in the former North Eastern Province of Kenya. Its capital and largest town is Mandera. The county is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, by Somalia to the east and by Wajir County to the southwest. According to the 2019 census, the county has a population of 867,457 and an area of 25,939.8 km2. The main economic activity in the county is pastoralism, while others include cross-border trade with Ethiopia, artisanal mining, beekeeping and agriculture along the Dawa River
Geography
The county mostly consists of rocky hills, located on a plain that rises from 400m in altitude near El Wak, to 970m near the Ethiopian border. The seasonal Dawa River (also ‘Daua River’) forms the border between Mandera County and Ethiopia, for about 150 km from the northernmost point of the county up to the Somali border. The river’s flood plains are used for cultivating crops. Most of the county has a semi-arid climate
Climatic Conditions
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.
Demographics
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.[4]
Population
| 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:[5] |
Administrative and Political Units
Administrative Units
There are 7 sub counties, 22 divisions, 97 locations and 141 sub-locations
Sub-counties
- Mandera East
- Mandera West
- Banisa
- Mandera North
- Lafey
- Mandera South
- Kutullo
- Arabia
- Kiliwehiri
Electoral constituencies
It has 6 constituencies and 30 county assembly wards.
- Mandera Constituency
- West Banisa Constituency
- Mandera East Constituency
- Lafey Constituency
- Mandera South Constituency
- Mandera North Constituency
Political Leadership
Ibrahim Roba is the Governor serving his last term in office after being elected twice 2013, 2017 and his deputy is Mohamed Ahmed.[9] Mahamud Mohamed M is the Senator and he replaced Billow Kerow who was the first elected senator. Amina Gedow is the second elected women representative won against the Fathia Mahbuub who was the first women representative for the county.
For Mandera County, the County Executive Committee comprises:-
| Number | |
|---|---|
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The Members of County Assembly | 48 |
| Members of the CEC | 10 |
Source
Members of Parliament 2017-2022 (Mandera County)
- Hon Omar Mohamed – omar salla of EFP Party Member o.f Parliament Mandera Constituency.
- Hon. Hassan, Kulow Maalim of EFP party Member of Parliament West Banisa Constituency.
- Hon. Hassan, Omar Mohamed Maalim of EFP Party Member of Parliament Mandera East Constituency.
- Hon. Ibrahim, Abdi Mude of EFP Party Member of Parliament Lafey Constituency.
- Hon. Ali, Adan Haji of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Mandera South Constituency.
- Hon. Abdullah, Bashir Sheikh of Jubilee Party Member of Parliament Mandera North Constituency.
Members of the County Assembly
- Hon Saad Sheikh Ahmed (Abajano)[²⁶]EFP PARTY Member of County Assembly Fino Ward
Health
There is a total of 83 health facilities in the county and 150 health personnel of different cadre.
HIV prevalence is at 1.8% below the national 5.3%.
Transport and Communication
The 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.
There are 13 cyber cafes, 5 post offices installed letter boxes, 1150 rented letter boxes and 1100 rented letter boxes, 50 vacant letter boxes
Trade and Commerce
There are 32 trading centres, 127 licensed retail traders, 212 licensed hawkers and 10 petrol stations.
County subdivisions
As of 2019, Mandera County is divided into 7 sub-counties:
| Sub-county | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Mandera West | Takaba |
| Banisa | Banisa |
| Kutulo | Kutulo |
| Lafey | Lafey |
| Mandera Central | El Wak |
| Mandera East | Mandera |
| Mandera North | Rhamu |
| Division | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Arabia | Mandera East |
| Ashabito | Rhamu |
| Banisa | Banissa |
| Central | Mandera |
| Dandu | Takaba |
| El Wak | El Wak |
| Fino | Lafey |
| Hareri | Mandera |
| Khalalio | Mandera |
| Kotulo | Elwak |
| Lafey | Lafey |
| Libehia | Mandera |
| Malkamari | Mandera |
| Rahamu Dimtu | Rhamu |
| Rhamu | Rhamu |
| Shimbir Fatuma | Elwak |
| Takaba | Takaba |
| Warankara | Lafey |
| Wargadud | Elwak |
| Sala | Lafey |
| Kiliweri | Banisa |
| Total | – |
| * 1999 census. Sources: |
Electoral constituencies
| Constituencies of Marsabit County |
|---|
| Map |
| Banissa |
| Mandera North |
| Mandera South |
| Mandera East |
| Lafey |
List of Secondary Schools in Mandera County
1. Mandera Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47803101
2. Moi Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 47803102
3. Arabia Boys Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47803201
4. Lafey Boys Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47803202
5. Arabia Girls Secondary – Girls Boarding – 47803203
6. Takaba Boys’ Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47810101
7. Takaba Girls’ Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 47810103
8. Elwak Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47811101
9. Elwak Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 47811103
10. Chief Mohamed Jari Secondary School – Mixed Boarding – 47811104
11. Sheikh Ali High School – Boys Boarding – 47812101
12. Rhamu Girls Secondary School – Girls Boarding – 47812102
13. Ashabito Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47812201
14. Lafey Boys Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47814101
15. Wayam Secondary School – Boys Boarding – 47817101
