Wajir
Wajir (Somali: Wajeer) is the capital of Wajir County of Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province.
Wajir
Wajeer | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
  Wajir Location within Kenya .svg.png.webp) Wajir Location within the Horn of Africa  Wajir Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 01°45′00″N 40°03′00″E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Wajir County |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
| • Total | 90,116 |
| Area code | 46 |
| Climate | BWh |
History
A cluster of cairns near Wajir are generally ascribed by the local inhabitants to the Maadiinle, 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]
Wajir was attacked by Italian forces in World War II.
Wajir was the site of the Wagalla massacre in 1984. The Kenyan army rounded up as many as 5,000 Somali men of the Degodia clan from their homes on the morning of 10 February. Although the ostensible purpose was to defuse clan fighting, the army held the Degodia captives at an airstrip for five days without water and food, before executing them.
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. (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, The 2019 census reported a total population of 90,116 inhabitants.[1]
Climate
Wajir has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh).
| 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 (92) |
| 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) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 5.1 (0.2) |
13 (0.5) |
20 (0.8) |
69 (2.7) |
36 (1.4) |
0 (0) |
5.1 (0.2) |
2.5 (0.1) |
5.1 (0.2) |
25 (1) |
41 (1.6) |
23 (0.9) |
244.8 (9.6) |
| Source: Weatherbase [3] | |||||||||||||
Administrative divisions
Wajir is the capital of the Wajir County. The county is subdivided into 6 Constituencies (Wajir South Constituency, Wajir East Constituency, Wajir West Constituency, Wajir North Constituency,Tarbaj Constituency and Eldas Constituency. These constituencies are represented by Members of Parliament in the National Assembly. The county has a total of 30 wards.
References
- "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume II: Distribution of Population by Administrative Units". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- 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;
- "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Wajir, Kenya". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.