Mandera County is county 009 of Kenya’s 47, in the former North Eastern Province. It occupies Kenya’s north-eastern corner, where the country meets Ethiopia and Somalia. Its capital, Mandera town, stands on the Dawa River at that three-country point. The county recorded 867,457 residents in the 2019 census across 25,798 square kilometres.
Mandera is the driest and most remote of Kenya’s counties. It is also one of the most densely settled arid counties, because the Dawa gives it a permanent water line.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Mandera |
| County code | 009 |
| Population (2019 census) | 867,457 |
| Area | 25,797.7 km² |
| Former province | North Eastern |
| Sub-counties | 6 (Mandera East, Mandera North, Mandera South, Mandera West, Banissa, Lafey) |
| Constituencies | 6 |
| County assembly wards | 30 |
| Main languages | Somali, Borana, Swahili, English |
Under Kenya’s devolved system the county governor is Mohamed Adan Khalif, and the county assembly sits at the capital.
Towns and Villages in Mandera County
Mandera has a small number of large towns rather than many small villages, because permanent water and border trade concentrate people. The six towns below carry recorded populations.
| Town | Role | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mandera | County capital | 114,718 |
| El Wak | Border town | 60,732 |
| Rhamu | Town | 35,644 |
| Lafey | Sub-county centre | 22,882 |
| Takaba | Sub-county centre | 21,517 |
| Banissa | Sub-county centre | 14,974 |
The full A–Z list of recorded towns and villages in Mandera County follows. Somali and Borana names are transliterated in several ways, so a place may also appear under a variant spelling.
- Anio
- Arabia
- Arda Dadaja
- Banissa
- Bur Mayo
- Damasa
- Dandu
- El Wak
- Finno
- Hara Hurile
- Jaba Dimtu
- Koridzhub
- Lafey
- Mandera
- Rhamu
- Rhamu Dimtu
- Takaba
- Waragalla
Geography
Mandera is low, flat and hot. Ground lies mostly between 200 and 500 metres above sea level, rising slightly toward the Takaba plateau in the west. The Dawa River runs along the northern boundary with Ethiopia and joins the Ganale to form the Jubba just east of Mandera town. It is the county’s only permanent surface water.
Temperatures range from about 24°C to 42°C. Rainfall averages under 250 millimetres a year and is unreliable, with long rains in April and May and short rains in October and November. Semi-desert scrub, bare pan and seasonal lagas cover most of the county, with riverine woodland along the Dawa.
Mandera borders Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, and Wajir County to the south and west. Wajir is its only Kenyan neighbour; every other boundary is an international border.
Demographics
The 2019 census counted 867,457 people. The 2009 figure of 1,025,756 is not comparable: results for parts of northern Kenya were cancelled after that count, so 2019 is the reliable baseline. Density averages about 34 people per square kilometre, high for an arid county, because settlement crowds the Dawa and the border towns.
Residents are almost entirely Somali, with Garre, Murule, Degodia and Corner Tribes lineages, alongside Borana communities in the west around Takaba and Banissa. Somali is the home language; Swahili and English are used in school and administration. The 2019 census recorded 99.3 per cent of residents as Muslim.
Economy and Local Life
Pastoralism is the base of the economy. Camels, goats, sheep and cattle are herded across the county and traded at Mandera, El Wak, Rhamu and Takaba. Much of the stock crosses to and from Ethiopia and Somalia.
Irrigated farming along the Dawa produces maize, onions, tomatoes, watermelon, bananas, mangoes and fodder, and it is expanding as pumps spread along the riverbank. Cross-border trade is the second pillar: goods move through Mandera and El Wak in both directions. Public services, county government, transport and small retail employ most of the town workforce. Gum arabic, hides and honey add smaller incomes.
Getting There
Mandera town lies roughly 1,100 kilometres from Nairobi by road, reached through Isiolo, Modogashe, Wajir and El Wak. The route is largely earth and murram, and the journey takes several days by lorry. The county’s road network is about 1,885 kilometres, almost all unpaved, so travel slows sharply after rain.
Mandera Airport is the practical way in: scheduled flights link it to Nairobi Wilson Airport in roughly two hours. Airstrips serve El Wak, Rhamu and Takaba. Local movement between towns is by lorry, matatu and pickup, and travellers should check current road and security advice before setting out.
FAQ
What is the capital of Mandera County?
Mandera town is the county capital, with 114,718 residents in 2019. It sits on the Dawa River where Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia meet.
How many towns and villages are in Mandera County?
This directory lists 18 gazetted towns and villages. Mandera has fewer, larger settlements than most counties, concentrated along the Dawa and the border.
Which sub-counties make up Mandera County?
Six: Mandera East, Mandera North, Mandera South, Mandera West, Banissa and Lafey. Each is also a constituency, and the county has 30 wards.
What is the population of Mandera County?
867,457 at the 2019 census, across 25,798 square kilometres — about 34 people per square kilometre.
How far is Mandera from Nairobi?
About 1,100 kilometres by road via Isiolo, Wajir and El Wak. Scheduled flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport take around two hours.
What is Mandera County code?
Mandera is county 009 of Kenya’s 47 counties, in the former North Eastern Province.