Tana River District
Encyclopedia
Tana River District is a district
of Coast Province
, Kenya
. It is named after the Tana River
itself. It has an area of 38446 square kilometres (14,844.1 sq mi) and a population of 180,901 according to the 1999 census. The district capital is Hola
(sometimes known as Galole).
The major ethnic groups are the Pokomo, many of whom are farmers, and the Orma and Wardey, who are predominantly nomadic. The district is generally dry and prone to drought. Rainfall is erratic, with rainy seasons in March–May and October–December. Conflicts have occurred between farmers and nomadic peoples over access to water. Flooding is also a regular problem, caused by heavy rainfall in upstream areas of the Tana River.
Tana River district presents an interesting case of the nexus between conflict and food security. A recent survey prepared by ALMRP, Tana River District and presented to the Tana River District Steering Group (2004) found that the district is 79% food insecure and with an incidence of poverty at 62% (Interim Poverty Strategy Paper (I-PSP), 2000–2003, Kenya). Tana River district comprises several areas of forest, woodland and grassland which are minor centres of endemism. The forests are designated National Reserve status if they have >4 plant endemics and >7 vertebrate endemics (IUCN, 2003). Despite the apparent adequate natural resources, the region remains marginalised from the rest of the country. Efforts at development always seem to centre around the huge River Tana, despite massive failures in all the previous irrigation projects in the district, i.e. Bura, Hola and the Tana delta rice irrigation project which failed after the water works were damaged by the el nino rains in 1998.
, Galole
and Bura
.
Districts of Kenya
The provinces of Kenya are subdivided into number of districts .- List of districts of Kenya :Following a High Court ruling in September 2009, there are 46 legal districts in Kenya :Coast Province:...
of Coast Province
Coast Province
Coast Province of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city at Mombasa and is inhabited by the Mijikenda and Swahili, among others...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is named after the Tana River
Tana River (Kenya)
The long Tana River is the longest river in Kenya, and gives its name to the Tana River District. Its tributaries include the Thika. The river rises in the Aberdare Mountains to the west of Nyeri. Initially it runs east before turning south around the massif of Mount Kenya. The river then runs...
itself. It has an area of 38446 square kilometres (14,844.1 sq mi) and a population of 180,901 according to the 1999 census. The district capital is Hola
Hola, Kenya
Hola, also known as Galole is a small town in Kenya on the Tana River with a population of 6932. Hola is the capital of the Tana River District, in the Coast Province. It is a busy market town, and portal to Ijara District and Northeastern province by local canoe ferry across the Tana River...
(sometimes known as Galole).
The major ethnic groups are the Pokomo, many of whom are farmers, and the Orma and Wardey, who are predominantly nomadic. The district is generally dry and prone to drought. Rainfall is erratic, with rainy seasons in March–May and October–December. Conflicts have occurred between farmers and nomadic peoples over access to water. Flooding is also a regular problem, caused by heavy rainfall in upstream areas of the Tana River.
Tana River district presents an interesting case of the nexus between conflict and food security. A recent survey prepared by ALMRP, Tana River District and presented to the Tana River District Steering Group (2004) found that the district is 79% food insecure and with an incidence of poverty at 62% (Interim Poverty Strategy Paper (I-PSP), 2000–2003, Kenya). Tana River district comprises several areas of forest, woodland and grassland which are minor centres of endemism. The forests are designated National Reserve status if they have >4 plant endemics and >7 vertebrate endemics (IUCN, 2003). Despite the apparent adequate natural resources, the region remains marginalised from the rest of the country. Efforts at development always seem to centre around the huge River Tana, despite massive failures in all the previous irrigation projects in the district, i.e. Bura, Hola and the Tana delta rice irrigation project which failed after the water works were damaged by the el nino rains in 1998.
District subdivisions
Despite the large area of the Tana River district, its only local authority is Tana River County Council. The district has three constituencies: GarsenGarsen Constituency
Garsen Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Tana River District. The constituency has nine wards, all electing councillors to the Tana River County Council. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :-...
, Galole
Galole Constituency
Galole Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Tana River District. The constituency has eight wards, all electing councillors to the Tana River County Council. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
and Bura
Bura Constituency
Bura Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Tana River District. The constituency has nine wards, all electing councillors to the Tana River County Council. The constituency was established for the 1997 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations...
.
| Administrative divisions | |||||
| Division | Population* | Urban population* |
population density |
Area (km²) | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangale | 14,853 | 0 | 2 | x | |
| Bura | 28,848 | 0 | 6 | x | Bura Bura, Tana River District, Kenya Bura is a town in the Tana River District of Coast Province in Kenya.Nearby places include Tula, Hola, and Ijara.Bura has one of the few bridges across the Tana River for access to NE Province, Kenya. There are two Bura Town population clusters, Bura West and Bura East, situated on either side of... |
| Galole | 34,948 | 9,383 | 4 | x | Hola Hola, Kenya Hola, also known as Galole is a small town in Kenya on the Tana River with a population of 6932. Hola is the capital of the Tana River District, in the Coast Province. It is a busy market town, and portal to Ijara District and Northeastern province by local canoe ferry across the Tana River... |
| Garsen | 51,592 | 4,885 | 4 | x | Garsen |
| Kipini | 16,243 | 0 | 19 | x | Kipini |
| Madogo | 21,731 | 0 | 12 | x | |
| Wenje | 12,686 | 0 | 23 | x | Wenje |
| Total | 180,901 | 14,268 | 5 (average) | x | |