KENYA EXPERIENCE
Plan your trip
Book a Trip
Wajir County, Kenya

Kisima

Kisima means well.

Wajir County

Wajir holds much of the north's herds and heritage.

Capital
Wajir
People
781k
Area
55,841 km²
Altitude
240 m
Plan a tripTravel the road

Wajir is a vast, flat dryland and one of Kenya's most thinly settled counties. Somali herders make up most of the population, alongside a long Borana history. Wajir town is one of the oldest settlements in the north.

Travel note: The UK government advises against travel to parts of Wajir, including areas within 60 km of the Somalia border.

Why it matters

Wajir holds much of the north's herds and heritage. Its museum keeps the history of northern Kenya's communities.

The economy

Camel, goat, cattle and sheep herding dominates, with farming in good rain years and growing honey production.

Must-see in Wajir

  • Wajir Museum

    A National Museums of Kenya site, opened in 2011 in a building put up by Italian prisoners of war.

  • Orahey Wells

    The area's oldest wells, which elders credit with the town's growth.

  • Italian WWII bunkers and trenches

    Tunnel-linked bunkers from the 1940s near Orahey.

  • Lake Yahud (Yahut Dam)

    Wajir's favourite spot for birds and sunsets.

  • Shaletey Wells

    Historic wells documented by the museum.

  • Wildlife on the edge of town

    Giraffes, ostriches and gazelles roam freely.

Peoples of Wajir

Communities with a historic home in Wajir. Today people from every part of Kenya live and work here.

Music, food and culture

Somali herding traditions shape life here, and the museum has hosted cultural festivals. Try camel and goat meat, camel-milk tea, local watermelons and northern honey.

Best time to go

June to September is driest. Scheduled flights from Nairobi make Wajir easy to reach.

On the map

Open the full map

Wajir and its neighbours. Tap a county or a place to read about it.

Hover a county or a dot. Click to open it. Locations are approximate.

Your questions

When is the best time to visit Wajir?

June to September is driest. Scheduled flights from Nairobi make Wajir easy to reach.

What is Wajir County known for?

Wajir holds much of the north's herds and heritage. Its museum keeps the history of northern Kenya's communities.

Where is Wajir and what is its capital?

Wajir is a vast, flat dryland and one of Kenya's most thinly settled counties. Somali herders make up most of the population, alongside a long Borana history. Wajir town is one of the oldest settlements in the north. The county capital is Wajir, and the 2019 census counted 781,263 people across about 55,841 square kilometres.

Nearby

All 47 counties
A giraffe and acacia tree silhouetted against a Kenyan sunset

Put Wajir on your map.

A Kenya specialist replies within two business days with dates, lodges and flights from the USA.

Book a trip