Tana River County is county 004 of Kenya’s 47, in the former Coast Province. It is named for the Tana, Kenya’s longest river, which runs the length of the county to a delta on the Indian Ocean. The capital is Hola, and the county recorded 315,943 residents in the 2019 census across 35,376 square kilometres.
Almost every settlement here sits on or near the river. The plains either side are grazing land; the riverbank carries the farms, the villages and the road.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Hola |
| County code | 004 |
| Population (2019 census) | 315,943 |
| Area | 35,375.8 km² |
| Former province | Coast |
| Constituencies | 3 (Bura, Galole, Garsen) |
| Sub-counties | Tana North, Tana River, Tana Delta |
| County assembly wards | 15 |
| Main languages | Pokomo, Orma, Wardei, Somali, Swahili, English |
Under Kenya’s devolved system the county governor is Dhadho Godhana, and the county assembly sits at the capital.
Towns and Villages in Tana River County
Masalani is the county’s largest urban centre, though Hola is the administrative capital. The towns below carry recorded populations; the remainder of the list is villages along the river and in the delta.
| Town | Role | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Masalani | Town | 43,642 |
| Hola | County capital | 20,912 |
| Bura Tana | Irrigation-scheme town | 13,650 |
| Garsen | Junction town | 7,176 |
| Kipini | Delta and fishing town | 4,114 |
The full A–Z list of recorded towns and villages in Tana River County follows. It is the longest settlement list of any county in Kenya’s arid north-east, because the river supports a dense ribbon of small villages.
- Abarati
- Anasa
- Arithi
- Assa
- Bahati
- Bale
- Balguda
- Baymo
- Bfunbe
- Bili
- Bilisa
- Bisadi
- Bokoni
- Bole
- Bondeni
- Bongonoko
- Bubesa
- Bububu
- Buito
- Buluto Chopi
- Bura Tana
- Chamari
- Chamwanamuma
- Chanani
- Chewani
- Chewele
- Chiffiri
- Chirte Hiyesa
- Chirufa
- Daba
- Dadechadera
- Dalu
- Danisa
- Daruka-Karicho
- Desagut
- Dibe Dungicha
- Dida Warede
- Dumi
- Duwayo
- Ege
- El Jera
- Emausi
- Fanjua
- Furaha
- Gabani
- Gabisi
- Galili
- Garabugoya
- Garsen
- Gerarsa
- Ghalamani
- Godanabio
- Gojam
- Golbanti
- Gomesa
- Gubanargesa
- Gutati
- Handampia
- Handarako
- Hewani
- Hidilathi
- Hola
- Idsowe
- Irangi
- Jalalaluma
- Jamhuri
- Jara
- Kakungu
- Kalkacha
- Kamudi
- Kanjonja
- Kanwe-Mayi
- Karare
- Karota
- Kau
- Kelokelo
- Kesa Guru
- Kesanguri
- Kiamunyaka
- Kiarukungu
- Kibaoni
- Kibarani
- Kibokoni
- Kibusu
- Kidhanga
- Kikomo
- Kilelengwani
- Kilema Dui
- Kilunguni
- Kinyadu
- Kipao
- Kipendi
- Kipini
- Kitere
- Kitole
- Kitole Eldera
- Kivira
- Kivukoni
- Koito
- Kokani
- Komora Gurale
- Kone
- Konguna
- Kori
- Korobo
- Korokora
- Kulelet
- Kulesa
- Kumb
- Kurawa
- Kurla
- Kuryole
- Kwa Mbondo
- Kwangatuni
- Lailon
- Laini
- Lalavuto
- Laza
- Lazima
- Leka
- Lenda
- Maderite
- Mafomba
- Mahuzumia
- Majengo
- Makere
- Makere Ya Gwano
- Makutano
- Malibati
- Malindi ya Ngwena
- Malkamasa
- Mandeni
- Maongo
- Marafa
- Marembo
- Maroni
- Masa
- Masabubu
- Masalani
- Mata Mole
- Matagadarisha
- Matanya
- Matapani
- Mau Mau
- Maweni
- Maziwa
- Mazuni
- Mbalambala
- Menga
- Mikameni
- Mikinduni
- Milimani
- Minjila
- Mkomaniboi
- Mnazini
- Mugani
- Mukokoa
- Munguvini
- Mutiboko
- Mwalano
- Mwanathamba
- Mwina
- Nagesa
- Nanigi East
- Nanigi West
- Nduru
- Ngao
- Nyangwani
- Obo
- Oda
- Odhole
- Odoganda
- Odowani
- Onjebie
- Onjila
- Onkolde
- Onshora
- Orbu
- Ozi
- Pendeza
- Peponi
- Posa
- Pumwani
- Punda Milima
- Reketa
- Rhoka
- Roka
- Sabare
- Saidibabo
- Sailoni
- Saka
- Samicha
- Samikaro
- Sarbuye
- Sera
- Shirikisho
- Sumai
- Tarasaa
- Teso
- Til Tila
- Titila
- Tula
- Tulu
- Tuni
- Umoja
- Unkuno
- Unkuria
- Vaji
- Wachakone
- Walu
- Wayu
- Wayu Boro
- Wema
- Wenje
- Woldena
- Yaka
- Yedi
Geography
Tana River County is a long, low strip running north to south, mostly under 200 metres above sea level. The Tana enters from the north-west near Bura and flows south through Hola, Wenje and Garsen. It then spreads into the Tana Delta and reaches the sea at Kipini, on Ungwana Bay.
The river corridor holds riverine forest, doum palm, oxbow lakes and floodplain, while the land beyond it is dry acacia bushland and grass plain. Rainfall is erratic, coming in March to May and October to December, and the county is drought-prone; flooding along the river is the opposite hazard. The Tana River Primate National Reserve protects the endangered Tana River red colobus and crested mangabey, and Arawale National Reserve lies to the north-east.
Tana River borders Garissa County to the north-east, Isiolo County to the north and Kitui County to the west. Kilifi County lies to the south and Lamu County to the south-east, with the Indian Ocean at the delta.
Demographics
The 2019 census counted 315,943 people, up from 240,075 in 2009. Density is about nine people per square kilometre, and settlement is heavily concentrated along the river and in the delta.
The Pokomo are the main farming community along the riverbank, and the Orma and Wardei are the main pastoralist communities on the plains. Malakote, Munyoyaya, Somali, Bajuni, Giriama and Watta residents also live in the county. Pokomo, Orma and Swahili are widely spoken, with English used in administration. Islam and Christianity are both practised.
Economy and Local Life
Farming and herding divide the county. Pokomo households grow maize, rice, bananas, mangoes, simsim and vegetables on the flood-fed riverbank. Orma and Wardei households run cattle, goats and camels on the plains, moving to the river in dry seasons.
The Bura and Hola irrigation schemes are the largest formal agriculture, and both have been rehabilitated after long periods of decline. Fishing supports delta villages at Kipini, Ozi and Kilelengwani, in the river, the oxbow lakes and the sea. Mango and coconut sales, honey, charcoal and doum-palm products add cash income. Mineral occurrences include gypsum, barite, ilmenite and iron ore. Competition between farming and grazing over river access is a long-running source of local conflict.
Getting There
The B8 road from Malindi runs north through Garsen and on to Lamu, and Garsen is the county’s main junction. From Garsen a road turns north-west along the river to Hola and Bura, then continues to Garissa. Hola sits roughly 130 kilometres south of Garissa town and about 180 kilometres from Malindi.
Masalani is reached from Garsen by the road east across the river toward Ijara. Hola and Garsen have airstrips, and the nearest airports with scheduled flights are Malindi, Lamu and Garissa. Buses run daily between Mombasa, Malindi, Garsen, Lamu and Garissa. Roads off the tarmac are earth and flood readily, so delta and riverbank travel is slow in the rains.
FAQ
What is the capital of Tana River County?
Hola is the county capital, with 20,912 residents in 2019. Masalani is the largest town at 43,642.
How many towns and villages are in Tana River County?
This directory lists 217 gazetted towns and villages, most of them strung along the Tana River and through the delta.
Which sub-counties make up Tana River County?
Three: Tana North, Tana River and Tana Delta. They match the constituencies of Bura, Galole and Garsen, and the county has 15 wards.
What is the population of Tana River County?
315,943 at the 2019 census, across 35,376 square kilometres — about nine people per square kilometre.
Where does the Tana River reach the sea?
At Kipini, on Ungwana Bay, after spreading through the Tana Delta. The delta is a major wetland and fishing ground.
What is Tana River County code?
Tana River is county 004 of Kenya’s 47 counties, in the former Coast Province.