This is a list of the best places to visit in Wajir County. “Wajir” is a Borana word roughly translated to mean “coming together.” Wajir, one of the oldest settlements in northern Kenya, is rapidly expanding into a model desert town.
Wajir Town, the home of northern Kenya’s first museum, was established by the British in 1912 as their colonial headquarters. As a result, the town is rich in historical, natural, and cultural heritage, most of which is preserved by the museum, whose exhibition theme is “A Window to Northern Kenya.” In addition to its historical heritage, Wajir is also home to a variety of wildlife. Giraffes, ostriches, gazelles, birds, and other animals roam freely on the outskirts. In no particular order, here are the best places to visit in Wajir County:
Best Places To Visit In Wajir County
1. Wajir National Museum
Wajir Museum was opened in April 2011, to commemorate the town’s centennial anniversary. The museum preserves Wajir’s historical sites and monuments, which include the Wagalla massacre site, Yahut dam, Shaletey wells, old buildings, Italian war bunkers, and Orahey wells. The town’s oldest buildings, including the one housing the museum, were constructed by Italian prisoners of war.
These monuments also house the county’s paediatric centre, emergency response unit, deputy county commissioner’s offices, the police station, and the meteorological department. The wells hold significant historical value as they were central meeting points for pastoralists. The museum offers insights into the history and traditions of northern Kenyan communities.
2. Orahey Wells
“The word ‘Orahey’ means a place with a lot of sun. Orahey wells, the oldest in the region, are a short distance from the town centre but are no longer in use, elders say they were responsible for the growth of the town.
Whenever drought hits the county, residents gather here to pray for rain, and the Muslim faithful also come here to celebrate their holidays. Besides religious functions, the ground is used for public events due to its strategic location and ability to accommodate a large crowd.
Underneath the surface lie the Orahey water wells, which have existed for over 100 years. These wells are crucial for the livelihood of residents within and outside Wajir town who depend on pastoralism. It is believed that there are at least 10 water wells spread across the villages around Wajir town.
Decades ago, herders would bring their animals to the site to drink water, as it was the main water point. But today, things are different; boreholes and water pans have been developed near their settlements, away from the town.”
3. World War II Bunkers
The town is dotted with World War II bunkers connected by underground tunnels. The Italian army used the bunkers to prevent the area from falling into the hands of the British and Commonwealth forces in the 1940s. Trenches and bunkers can be seen from Orahey wells and the health department offices.
4. El Wak Town
El Wak, a town on the Kenya-Somalia border, is known as the “White City” due to its expansive white sands. The town’s name, derived from the Somali language, translates to “the wells of God.” El Wak is home to about 50 wells, each approximately 60 feet deep, with interconnected underground passages. The origin of these wells has puzzled archaeologists, with some believing they are naturally occurring and others suggesting they were dug out using stone tools. The wells have sustained the lives of locals, providing water to generations of nomadic pastoralists. While some wells have aged, others remain in good condition and continue to supply water to the residents of the White City.
5. Fort El Wak
Fort El Wak is located in the middle of El Wak town. Its tall, faded white limestone walls stand in stark contrast with the surrounding buildings. Although the exact date of the fort’s construction remains uncertain, it holds significant historical importance in Kenya.
During World War II in 1940, Italian troops started to advance into Kenya from the north, seeking to expand their territory into one of Britain’s colonies. A fierce battle took place between the two European nations. At that time, the British had full control of the fort, giving them an advantage over their rival nation. It was here that the British secured their regional victory, thanks to the protection offered by Kenya’s northernmost fort. Fort El Wak has long since been relieved of its wartime duties and currently serves as the town’s police post.
6. Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy
Established in 2018, the Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy is home to lions, the endangered reticulated Somali giraffe, Grévy’s zebra, the oryx, the Somali ostrich, gazelles, and hyenas. Cheetahs, lesser kudus, monkeys, and buffaloes are among other wildlife species found at Sabuli.
The establishment of Sabuli Wildlife Conservancy four years ago remains one of the goals adopted to mitigate against climate change and its adverse effects, serving as a livelihood safety net to cushion locals from losses of livestock during frequent droughts.
7. Lake Yahud
Lake Yahud is a permanent lake located on the outskirts of Wajir town. Residents fondly refer to it as “the primitive Jewish lake that never lacks water.” The lake was created in the 1970s during the quarrying of materials for the construction of Wajir Airport. When the massive quarry pit filled with rainwater, the lake was formed and was named Yahud after a friendly Jewish contractor at the airport.
8. Wagalla Massacre Monument
The Wagalla massacre is possibly one of the worst human rights violations in Kenya’s history. Between February 10th and 14th, 1984, heavily armed security officers descended on the quiet Wajir area ostensibly to mop up guns illegally held by locals. They rounded up Somali men of the Degodia clan from their homes in the wee hours of the morning of February 10th and held them up at the local airstrip for four days without water or food.
On the third day, the pangs of hunger and dehydration had started taking a toll on the naked men lined up heads down along the Wagalla airstrip. Those who still could muster some strength decided enough was enough. They took to their heels towards the barbed fence with the last hope of saving their souls. The security men opened fire at them. Twenty-four hours later, men in their hundreds lay dead. Their bullet-ridden bodies were scattered across the airstrip and in its bushy environs (Source: KNHCR). There were also incidents of rape, killing of livestock and burning of homes in the villages. It is estimated that about 482 people died.
In memory of those who lost their lives in the Wagalla massacre, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), in conjunction with other partners, supported the construction of a monument in Wajir Town. The monument, which was unveiled on February 14, 2014, has the names of 482 victims engraved on marble and pasted on a wall. These names were taken from the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission report and subjected to a thorough validation exercise for purposes of ensuring that they were indeed names of the people who lost their lives as a result of the massacre.
9. Wajir Airport
Wajir Airport, located approximately 5 kilometres east of Wajir Town, has evolved from a military airbase to become the third largest and busiest airport in Kenya in terms of passenger and aircraft movement. This growth can be attributed to the increasing number of airline operators managing both domestic and international flights. domestic and international flights.
10. Sabena Desert
The Sabena Desert is a large steppe with very little vegetation due to its extreme environmental conditions. It is located south of Habaswein, parallel to Mado Gashe and Habaswein in an east-to-west direction. The area is characterised by vast expanses of arid land with occasional salt flats and sparse vegetation. Similar to the Kaisut, Karioli, and Chalbi deserts further south, Sabena features little precipitation, resulting in minimal plant and animal life.
The desert experiences scorching daytime temperatures and chilly nights. Despite these harsh conditions, the Sabena desert is home to unique plants and animals that have adapted to survive in this environment, particularly in the perimeter frontiers.
11. Mansa Guda Formation
In the northeast part of Wajir County, there are a series of eroded sandstone hillocks and distinct ridges that trend westerly from near El Ben to Moyale. The sandstones are thin in the south and disappear under the grey soils, but they thicken in the northeast, where they become conglomeratic. Mansa Guda is geologically defined as sandstone-conglomerate beds at the base of limestones.
12. Wajir War Cemetery
The small Wajir War Cemetery, measuring approximately 78 square metres (10 metres by 7.8 metres), houses only two graves. Despite its size, it holds great historical significance, as Wajir has been witness to several wars. One of the two graves was relocated to the cemetery in 1929 from Rhamu, a location 318 km further north. The cemetery is situated near the boundary of Italian Somaliland (Somalia) and is attached to a government station previously known as Archer’s Post. In August 2008, it was designated as a national monument. The cemetery is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm.
