Wajir

Not to be confused with Wajir County.
Wajir
Town
Wajir

Location in Kenya

Coordinates: 01°45′00″N 40°03′00″E / 1.75000°N 40.05000°E / 1.75000; 40.05000
Country  Kenya
County Wajir County
Elevation 1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Population (2009 Census)[1]
 • Town 82,800
 • Urban 16,838
Area code(s) 46

Wajir (Somali: Wajeer) is the capital of the Wajir County of Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province.

History

A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Madanle, a semi-legendary people of high stature, who are associated with the Somali. A. T. Curle (1933) reported the excavation of two of these large tumuli, finding traces of skeletal remains which crumbled at his touch, as well as earthenware shards and a copper ring.[2]

Overview

Wajir is located in an arid area prone to drought. It sits at a latitude and longitude of 01°45′00″N 40°03′00″E / 1.75000°N 40.05000°E / 1.75000; 40.05000. (Latitude:1.75000; Longitude:40.05000). The town is served by Wajir Airport, with flights to Nairobi, Galkacyo and Mogadishu.

Demographics

Wajir is mainly inhabited by Somalis, most belonging to the Degodia, ogaden, Ajuran. The 1999 census reported a total population of 661,941 inhabitants.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Wajir
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 35
(95)		 36
(96)		 36
(96)		 34
(94)		 33
(92)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 32
(89)		 33
(91)		 33
(92)		 33
(91)		 33
(92)		 33.4
(92.2)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(74)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 21
(70)		 21
(69)		 21
(69)		 21
(70)		 22
(71)		 22
(71)		 23
(73)		 22
(71.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 5
(0.2)		 13
(0.5)		 20
(0.8)		 69
(2.7)		 36
(1.4)		 0
(0)		 5
(0.2)		 3
(0.1)		 5
(0.2)		 30
(1)		 41
(1.6)		 23
(0.9)		 250
(9.6)
Source: Weatherbase [4]

Education

Wajir county has several secondary schools, six of which are located in Wajir East district. Some of the academic institutions include Wajir High School, Wajir Girls High, Griftu High, Hon. Khalif, Eldas High, Bute High, Hadado, Habaswein High, Furaha Mixed Day School, Waberi Mixed Day Secondary School and Sabunley Secondary School.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Wajir County

Wajir is the capital of the Wajir County. The district is subdivided into fourteen administrative divisions, which come under the local authority, the Wajir county government.

Wajir County has four constituencies:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population". Kenya Open Data Project. 2011.
  2. ↑ I.M. Lewis, "132. The So-Called 'Galla Graves' of Northern Somaliland", Man 61 (1961), p. 103. Lewis cites an earlier report by Curle, "Prehistoric graves in the Northern Frontier Province of Kenya Colony," Man, 1933, p. 102;
  3. ↑ 1999 National Census
  4. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Wajir, Kenya". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 1°45′00″N 40°03′00″E / 1.75000°N 40.0500°E / 1.75000; 40.0500

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