Wajir
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Wajir
Wajeer | |
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Town | |
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  Wajir Location within Kenya .svg) Wajir Location within the Horn of Africa  Wajir Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 01°45′00″N 40°03′00″E / 1.75000°N 40.05000°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Wajir County |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
• Total | 130,116 |
| Postal code | 70200 |
| Area code | 46 |
| Climate | BWh |
Wajir (Somali: Wajeer) is the capital of Wajir County in Kenya. It is situated in the former North Eastern Province.
History
[edit]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
[edit]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. (Latitude:1.75000; Longitude:40.05000). The town is served by Wajir Airport, with flights to Nairobi, Galkacyo and Mogadishu.
Demographics
[edit]Wajir is mainly inhabited by Somalis, The 2019 census reported a total population of 150,116 inhabitants.[1]
Climate
[edit]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 |
| Mean daily maximum °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) |
| Mean daily minimum °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] | |||||||||||||
Sports
[edit]Stadium
[edit]Following a 3 February 2026 meeting between Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi and officials from the Ministry of Defence, Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru announced that the Kenya Defense Forces would construct a 10,000 seater stadium in Wajir. [4] Ahmed Abdullahi said that construction would begin immediately and would be complete by the 63rd Madaraka Day, where the event would be hosted. Construction officially begun in late February.[5] Project engineer Dennis Oloo said there would be a 24/7 hour construction work and that workers would do so in three shifts. [5] The national government handed it over to the County Government of Wajir on 29 March.[6] According to President William Ruto, it would cost Ksh. 900 million.[7] The 63rd Madaraka Day national celebrations were held at Wajir Stadium.[8] During his speech, Ahmed Abdullahi asked for the stadium to be renamed in honour of Ahmed Mohamed Khalif, the first Cabinet minister from Wajir, the president agreed to do so. Ahmed was appointed by President Mwai Kibaki as the Minister for Labour in 2003, less than a month before he died in a plane crash accident.[8] Wajir stadium will be the first in the north-eastern region to be built to international standards, it has a seating capacity of 10,000, a standard football pitch, an eight-lane athletics track, modern changing rooms, VIP lounges, terraces with seating, a borehole for its water supply and abundant parking space. [9]
Administrative divisions
[edit]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. Each ward elects a member to the Wajir County Assembly.
Etymology
[edit]Wajir’s name comes from Somali and means “valley” or “low-lying area.” The name is derived from the Somali word Waji which refers to “a depression in the land.” [10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Abdirahman Khalif (3 February 2026). "Wajir County to get 10,000-seater stadium as KDF begins construction". Eastleigh Voice. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ^ a b Stephen Astariko (26 February 2026). "Stadium construction begins in Wajir ahead of Madaraka Day fete". The Star. Archived from the original on 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
From dust to dustwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lodite, Cynthia (12 February 2026). "Wajir County set to host 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations". People Daily. Archived from the original on 5 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ^ a b Steve Otieno (2 June 2026). "Why Wajir Stadium will bear name of shortest-serving Cabinet minister". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ^ Manase Otsialo (1 June 2026). "From dust to grass: The story of Wajir Stadium". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ^ "Wajir". iFly. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
External links
[edit]- Location of Wajir At Google Maps
- wajir county news website Archived 2013-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
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