Location: Located in the North Eastern part of Kenya, it borders Ethiopia to the North, Somalia Republic to the East, and Wajlr County to the South and South West

Area (Km 2): 25,991.5 Km 2

Climate/Weather: Rainfall is scanty and unpredictable averaging 255mm. It is very hot with temperatures at a mean annual average of 28.3°C but can reach a high of 37°C.

Road Network: Bitumen Surface (Not Available), Gravel Surface (470 Km), Earth Surface (2,083Km)

Population: 1,025,756 (Male - 54.6 %, Female – 45.4%)

Population Density: 39 people per Km 2

National Percentage: 2.7 %

Annual Growth Rate: 3.96 %

Age Distribution: 0-14 years (53.7%), 15-64 years (44.4 %), 65+ years (1.9 %)

Number of Households: 125,497

County Capital: Mandera Town (proposed)

Number of Constituencies (2010): 3 (Mandera East, Mandera Central and Mandera West)

Registered Voters: 76,213

National percentage: 0.6 %

Number of Districts (2009): 4 (Mandera North, East, West and Central)

Number of Local Authorities (2010): 2 (Town Council of Mandera, County Council of Mandera)

Voting History:

1992:        KANU
1997:        KANU
2002:        KANU
2007:        ODM (Mandera Central - PNU)

Voter Turnout:

Highest:    69% (2007 Elections)
Lowest:        52% (1992 Elections)

Poverty Level: 68 % (Absolute poverty - Rural & Urban)

Age Dependency Ratio: 100:110

Resources: Quarry Mining

Tourist Attractions: Malka Mari Fort, National Park, and Game Reserve

Financial Services: 2 Commercial Banks

Main Economic Activities/ Industries: Livestock trade and pastoralism, trade in handcraft products

CRA Allocation:  3,188,044,827

Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (117), Secondary (19)

Primary: Enrolment (40,148)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:68 (Public Schools)

Secondary: Enrolment (2,747)

Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:24 (Public Schools)

Tertiary: Mandera Youth Polytechnic

Adult Literacy Classes: 135 Enrolment (3,465)

Health Facilities: District Hospitals (3), Sub-District Hospitals (2), Dispensaries (24), Health Centres (12), Medical Clinics (20), Nursing Homes (4)

Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:508,878

Infant Mortality Rates: 72/1000

Under Five Mortality Rates: 128/ 1000

Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, Urinary Tract Infections, Pneumonia and HIV/AIDS

Notable Hospitals: Takaba, Elwak, and Mandera District Hospitals 

• Great potential in regional import-export market

• Great potential in solar energy harvesting

• Security challenges with the county bordering Ethiopia which experiences clashes

• Access to Mandera County is problematic due to lack of proper infrastructure

• Acute food shortages that are recurrent from year to year