Lamu County

The brief

About Lamu County

Lamu County is Kenya's northernmost coastal county, bordering Garissa, Tana River, and the Indian Ocean. Lamu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the county headquarters and one of East Africa's oldest Swahili settlements. The county comprises islands, mangrove forests, beaches, coral reefs, and coastal plains. Communities include the Swahili, Bajuni, Boni, and Orma. Fishing, tourism, maritime transport, farming, and the LAPSSET Corridor support the economy. Lamu is internationally renowned for dhow sailing, Islamic heritage, carved architecture, poetry, and annual cultural festivals. Historically it has been a major centre of Indian Ocean trade linking Africa with Arabia, Persia, and Asia. Lamu Sub-Counties are:

Lamu East Lamu West

Population

143,920

Male (56%)

80,684

Female (50%)

72,070

Area

6,283 km²

Sub-counties

2

Capital

Lamu