Overview of the area
Mandera central sub county is one of the five sub counties in the larger Mandera County in North Eastern region of Kenya. It is composed of approximately 17,162 households according to the 2009 census and an estimated population of 275,804 . The Garre (who speak Borana) clan are the predominant ethnic group inhabiting, they are mainly nomadic and their settlements and density are mainly influenced by water and pasture. Parts of the district are covered by a range of low lying hills starting from Wargadud stretching to Gari hills towards the North. The rest is low-lying plains which rise to around 400m above sea level. The communities are pastoralist and agro pastoralist with limited access to irrigation who continue to face food insecurity from re-occurring drought and subsequent livestock losses. The district experiences chronic food insecurity and high incidences of malnutrition. The rainy and dry seasons can no longer be counted upon to provide season grazing and water ...