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Legal & Regulatory

Full List of All Wards in Garissa County: Everything You Need to Know

  • BY waceke
  • March 15, 2025
garissa county

Garissa County, a vibrant hub in Kenya’s Eastern region, boasts 30 electoral wards across six constituencies. Spanning 45,720 square kilometers and home to over 841,353 people (2019 Kenya Census), this semi-arid county blends pastoral traditions with a growing economic pulse. For Kenyan business professionals, understanding these wards—from Garissa Township’s urban buzz to Dadaab’s rural expanse—offers a roadmap to tap into a region ripe with potential.

Garissa County: A Gateway to Eastern Kenya

Garissa County sits in Kenya’s Eastern region, bordered by Somalia to the east, Wajir and Isiolo to the north, Tana River to the west, and Lamu to the south. Its six constituencies—Garissa Township, Balambala, Lagdera, Dadaab, Fafi, and Ijara—divide into 30 wards, each with an MCA steering local growth. With 163,350 registered voters (IEBC 2022), Garissa’s consumer base is dynamic and expanding.

The county’s economy, valued at over KSh 20 billion annually (county estimates), hinges on pastoralism—over 2 million livestock—alongside small-scale farming and trade. Governor Korane’s focus on irrigation, security, and infrastructure keeps Garissa on the map, making its wards micro-markets worth exploring. Here’s the full ward breakdown.

Full List of Wards in Garissa County by Constituency

Garissa’s 30 wards span six constituencies, each with unique economic vibes. Below, they’re laid out with a peek at what drives them.

Garissa Township Constituency

Population: ~200,000 (est.). The county’s urban and trade hub.

  1. Waberi Ward
    • Profile: Urban, near Garissa Town, trade focus.
    • Business Angle: Retail or logistics hubs.
  2. Galbet Ward
    • Profile: Peri-urban, pastoral and markets.
    • Business Angle: Livestock trade or consumer goods.
  3. Township Ward
    • Profile: Urban core, Garissa Town center.
    • Business Angle: Real estate or service outlets.
  4. Iftin Ward
    • Profile: Urbanizing, trade growth.
    • Business Angle: FMCG shops or tech services.

Balambala Constituency

Population: ~120,000 (est.). A rural agro-pastoral zone.

  1. Balambala Ward
    • Profile: Trading center, farming base.
    • Business Angle: Retail or farm inputs.
  2. Danyere Ward
    • Profile: Rural, livestock and trade.
    • Business Angle: Meat supply or solar solutions.
  3. Jarajara Ward
    • Profile: Pastoral with small markets.
    • Business Angle: Fodder farming or microfinance.
  4. Saka Ward
    • Profile: Remote, livestock focus.
    • Business Angle: Mobile markets or veterinary services.
  5. Sankuri Ward
    • Profile: Rural, farming and trade.
    • Business Angle: Agro-tech or consumer goods.

Lagdera Constituency

Population: ~100,000 (est.). A pastoral expanse with trade pockets.

  1. Modogashe Ward
    • Profile: Trading hub, pastoral base.
    • Business Angle: Retail or livestock markets.
  2. Benane Ward
    • Profile: Rural, livestock and trade.
    • Business Angle: Meat trade or solar energy.
  3. Goreale Ward
    • Profile: Remote, pastoral focus.
    • Business Angle: Fodder production or microfinance.
  4. Maalamin Ward
    • Profile: Pastoral with small markets.
    • Business Angle: Livestock trade or mobile banking.
  5. Sabena Ward
    • Profile: Rural, farming potential.
    • Business Angle: Agro-processing or farm inputs.
  6. Baraki Ward
    • Profile: Remote, livestock base.
    • Business Angle: Solar solutions or consumer goods.

Dadaab Constituency

Population: ~180,000 (est.). A refugee and pastoral hub.

  1. Dertu Ward
    • Profile: Rural, livestock focus.
    • Business Angle: Meat supply or solar energy.
  2. Dadaab Ward
    • Profile: Trading center, refugee hub.
    • Business Angle: Retail or logistics.
  3. Labasigale Ward
    • Profile: Remote, pastoral base.
    • Business Angle: Fodder farming or microfinance.
  4. Damajale Ward
    • Profile: Rural, trade growth.
    • Business Angle: Consumer goods or mobile markets.
  5. Liboi Ward
    • Profile: Near Somalia border, trade.
    • Business Angle: Cross-border commerce or solar solutions.
  6. Abakaile Ward
    • Profile: Pastoral with small markets.
    • Business Angle: Livestock trade or veterinary services.

Fafi Constituency

Population: ~120,000 (est.). A rural agro-pastoral mix.

  1. Bura Ward
    • Profile: Rural, farming and trade.
    • Business Angle: Agro-tech or farm inputs.
  2. Dekaharia Ward
    • Profile: Pastoral, small markets.
    • Business Angle: Meat trade or solar energy.
  3. Jarajila Ward
    • Profile: Remote, livestock focus.
    • Business Angle: Fodder production or microfinance.
  4. Fafi Ward
    • Profile: Trading hub, pastoral base.
    • Business Angle: Retail or consumer goods.
  5. Nanighi Ward
    • Profile: Rural, farming potential.
    • Business Angle: Agro-processing or solar solutions.

Ijara Constituency

Population: ~100,000 (est.). A southern pastoral zone.

  1. Hulugho Ward
    • Profile: Remote, livestock base.
    • Business Angle: Meat supply or mobile banking.
  2. Sangailu Ward
    • Profile: Rural, pastoral and trade.
    • Business Angle: Fodder farming or microfinance.
  3. Ijara Ward
    • Profile: Trading center, agro-pastoral base.
    • Business Angle: Retail or farm inputs.
  4. Masalani Ward
    • Profile: Near Tana River, farming.
    • Business Angle: Irrigation farming or consumer goods.

Economic Drivers of Garissa’s Wards

Garissa’s wards power a KSh 20 billion+ economy rooted in pastoralism but branching into new areas. Livestock—2 million cattle, camels, goats, and sheep—generate KSh 12 billion yearly (county data). Small-scale farming, like maize and mangoes in wards like Masalani and Bura, adds KSh 3 billion. Trade in urban wards like Township and Dadaab contributes KSh 4 billion, boosted by cross-border commerce with Somalia.

Key stats:

  • Livestock: 75% of households own animals, per 2019 Census.
  • Trade: Urban wards grow 5% yearly, driven by markets.
  • Population Density: 18 people per km², with Garissa Town at 5,000+ residents.

The Garissa-Nairobi road upgrade (2023) cuts travel (620 km) to 10 hours, while irrigation along the Tana River boosts five wards.

Business Opportunities Across Garissa’s Wards

Garissa’s 30 wards offer diverse prospects for 2025. Here’s where to jump in:

Livestock and Agro-Processing

  • Target Wards: Dertu, Jarajila, Hulugho, Abakaile.
  • Opportunities: Meat processing, fodder farming, or leather tanning.
  • Why: Livestock exceeds local markets by 25%—a new abattoir is set for 2025.

Retail and Consumer Markets

  • Target Wards: Township, Iftin, Modogashe, Fafi.
  • Opportunities: Supermarkets, tech shops, or FMCG hubs.
  • Why: Urban wards see 6% consumer growth yearly.

Renewable Energy and Infrastructure

  • Target Wards: Goreale, Labasigale, Sangailu, Baraki.
  • Opportunities: Solar grids or water harvesting.
  • Why: Only 6% of homes use electricity—solar potential hits 6 kWh/m² daily.

Irrigation and Agriculture

  • Target Wards: Masalani, Nanighi, Bura, Dekaharia.
  • Opportunities: Drip irrigation or fruit processing.
  • Why: Tana River irrigates 10,000+ hectares—mangoes and bananas are untapped.

Challenges Facing Garissa’s Wards

Garissa’s wards face hurdles that savvy businesses can turn into wins:

  • Infrastructure: 10% of roads are paved—rural wards like Liboi lag in trade.
  • Water Scarcity: 70% rely on seasonal rains—drought cuts yields 20% yearly.
  • Security: Border wards like Liboi face risks, slowing investment.

These gaps spell niches—logistics firms, water tech, or security solutions could bridge the divide. In 2023, 35% used improved water sources, with Township at 75%—a rural-urban split to address.