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Gurreh District
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District | |
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| Nickname(s): Gurreh District, G.D. | |
  Gurreh District Location within the Horn of Africa  Gurreh District Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 3°25′00″N 40°40′00″E / 3.41667°N 40.6667°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| Region | NFD |
| District | Mandera County |
| Government | |
| • Type | Governor |
| • Governor | Mohamed Adan Khalif |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Gurreh District [current Mandera County] derives its name after the indigenous and predominant Garre tribe.[1][2] [3].The Gurreh District is situated in Kenya's northeast. It shares boundaries with Wajir County to the southwest, Federal Republic of Somalia to the east, and Ethiopia to the north. The county is located between longitudes 390 47' East and 410 4.8' East, and latitudes 20 11' North and 40 17' North. It encompasses 25,991.5 km2 in size.
Overview edit
The name Gurreh District was given by Sir Vincent Glenday, Chief Shaba Alio and the prominent elder, Aw Gababa Alio in 1900.[3] Gurreh District was created by the military administration. Administration of Gurreh from Moyale prevailed from 1912 to 1923. Moyale station was established in 1907 to supervise the frontier between the Protectorate and Abyssinia. In 1910, it became headquarters both for its district and the Northern Frontier District. Gurreh substation was established during the military control of the area, but with the return of civil administration and reinstitution of civilian control in 1926, Gurreh District was administered as separate district. It merged with Moyale from 1929 until 1941, with Gurreh functioning as a sub-district. Though evacuated in 1940, Gurreh re -acquired district status upon its reoccupation in 1941.[4]
History edit
Both Garre and Ajuran claim to have lived in their present locations in Gurreh district and northern part of Wajir District prior to the sixteen century expansion of the oromo people. The Rendile, Gabra and Sakuye a are believed to have split from the original Garre and Ajuran during a long trek journey.or 'Kedi guur' (migration-migration).[5] .
Pre-Colonial Period edit
The Gurreh District had a long history of battles for dominance. The first conflict was between the Borana people from Ethiopia and the Garre from Somalia.[6] The Garre leaders had their headquarters near the ancient trading city of Luuq. The fighting broke out at a place called Dadacha Warrab, as the Garre attempted to defeat the Borana who were entrenched in settlements around Korome and Rhamu hills,narrow gorges provided good defense lines.[7][8] Many fighters on both sides died. The Borana forces were pushed to new defense bases at Rhamu & Ashabito and El Wak wells, but were ultimately defeated and the Garre claimed victory and their ancient land.[9][10]
Murulle & Deegodia edit
The Murule people, under their leader Adan Hirsi, came from hiraan region of Somalia and settled in the Gedo region. They requested friendship with the Garre[11], but their request was rejected.[12] The Garre eventually allowed the Murule and Degodia to settle in Gurreh District, but tensions rose as the two communities grew. The Degodia and Murule soon changed their tune and rebelled against the Quranyow, leading to the Colka Caalin (Civil war) [13][14][15]. The war resulted in the defeat of the Degodia and Murule, and they fled to Ado in Ethiopia. The Murule were later granted grazing rights in Rhamu by Sayid Ali after paying him a "shaben" of 100 camels and giving 100 girls in marriage to the Garre, while the Degodia migrated to Wajir district in 1913[15] and while those who decided to stay in the Gurreh district and paid camels to the Garre for access to grazing domains.[9][16][17]
Colonial Period edit
According to the Kenyan National Archive, Mandera was made the District Headquarters in 1910 and was the capital of the Northern Frontier District until it was moved to Meru in 1919. At the time, only the Garre tribe lived in the area. In 1924, a public baraza was held to settle the boundary dispute between Mandera (Gurreh District) and Wajir District. This mutual demarcation line separated the two communities, with Gurreh District stretching from Boloble to the Italian Somaliland boundary.[18].
Interclan clashes edit
The relationship between the Garre community and its neighbors in the Gurreh District is complicated by territorial issues and historical rivalries. The Garre believe they have grazing rights throughout the district, but the government has established exclusive areas for each tribe, leading to tension with the Murulle and Degodia. The Degodia's agreement to pay taxes to the British after WW2 gave them good relations with the British granting them grazing rights over certain Ashabito and Banisa, which added to the difficulties between them and the Garre. The pre-colonial rivalry between the Garre and other clans is crucial to understanding the current inter-clan disputes in the district. The Garre view themselves as superior and the first Somali group to arrive in Mandera, and believe their claims to larger areas of the district have not changed. [9][19][20]
Geography edit
The Gurreh District is located in the northeastern region of Kenya, bordering Somalia to the east and Ethiopia to the north. The county covers an area of approximately 25,797 square kilometers and is one of the largest counties in Kenya.
The county's terrain is generally flat and consists of dry grasslands, shrubs, and acacia trees. The county lies within the larger arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya, which are characterized by low rainfall and harsh weather conditions. The Dawa River, which flows along the border between Kenya and Somalia, is one of the main sources of water in the area.
The district is also home to several wildlife species, including the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, and lesser kudu. The county is also part of the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) conservation area, which aims to promote wildlife conservation and community development.[21]
Climate edit
The climate in Gurreh District ( Mandera county) is classified as arid and semi-arid, with very little rainfall throughout the year. The area is located near the equator, which means that the temperature remains relatively constant throughout the year. The average annual temperature in the District is around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit), with temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during the hottest months. The district typically experiences two rainy seasons, with the short rains occurring between October and December and the long rains between March and May.The average annual rainfall is approximately 250mm
| Climate data for Gurreh District (Mandera County), elevation: Minimum elevation: 196m Maximum elevation: 1,332m | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 36.3 (97.3) |
37.1 (98.8) |
36.6 (97.9) |
34.6 (94.3) |
33.5 (92.3) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.5 (90.5) |
33.7 (92.7) |
34.2 (93.6) |
33.2 (91.8) |
34.4 (93.9) |
34.3 (93.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 22.7 (72.9) |
23.4 (74.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
24.5 (76.1) |
23.6 (74.5) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.0 (71.6) |
21.9 (71.4) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
22.9 (73.2) |
21.9 (71.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 12.2 (0.48) |
8.4 (0.33) |
27.1 (1.07) |
51.8 (2.04) |
18.6 (0.73) |
2.7 (0.11) |
2.0 (0.08) |
1.7 (0.07) |
3.0 (0.12) |
55.0 (2.17) |
52.8 (2.08) |
26.8 (1.06) |
250 (9.8) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 279 | 252 | 279 | 270 | 279 | 270 | 279 | 279 | 270 | 248 | 240 | 248 | 3,193 |
| Average ultraviolet index | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Source: WMO (UN),[22] and Weather Atlas[23]
Mean temperature & Mean total rainfall is based on monthly averages for the period 1988-2018. | |||||||||||||
Gallery edit
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Elwaq town Elkaru resort -
River Dawa -
Mandera -
Elwaq fortress, seen from ELwaq -
-Mandheera magaalo
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References edit
- ^ Schlee, Günther (2007). Identities on the move : clanship and pastoralism in northern Kenya. Gideon S. Were Pr. p. 110. ISBN 9966-852-20-4. OCLC 838094592.
- ^ Ibrahim, Ali, (1993). Origin and history of the Somali people. Eget forlag. ISBN 0-9518924-5-2. OCLC 769997578. Described Mandera as Garre country
- ^ a b NEGOTIATED DEMOCRACY-A PANACEA FOR PERENNIAL ELECTION-RELATED CONFLICTS IN AFRICA? A CASE OF KENYA’S MANDERA COUNTY (2013 – 2017)
- ^ 1968 A Guide to the Guide to the Kenya National Archives
- ^ Günther, Schlee, (2007). Identities on the move : clanship and pastoralism in northern Kenya. Gideon S. Were Pr. p. 94. ISBN 9966-852-20-4. OCLC 838094592.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mandera Elders
- ^ Mburu, Nene (2005). Bandits on the border : the last frontier in the search for Somali unity. Trenton, NJ: Red Sea Press. ISBN 1-56902-226-7. OCLC 57693710.
- ^ 'A coalition of Marehan, Aulihan, Garre, and Rer Galana drove Borana out of the El Wak wells forcing them westward into Wajir and Marsabit. The Garre hired Degodia who sought socio-economic refuge among them, and employed them as mercenaries during ruthless inter-clan wars of 1906-12’ Mburu, Nene (2005). Bandits on the Border: The Last Frontier in the Search for Somali Unity. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-1-56902-227-6.
- ^ a b c Amani Papers - Dynamics and Trends of Conflict in Greater Mandera Vol | No 2 May 2010
- ^ Salkeld (1909), PC/NFD/4/6/1 J.W.K.Pease, An Ethnological Treatise on the Gurreh tribe, PC/NFD/4/8/1
- ^ According to the colonial District Commissioners records, "Anxious to be free, for they were formerly ‘shegat’ to the Marehan in Jubaland, the Murulle obey Government orders probably better than the Garre and like the Degodia they are better organised and more coherent"- District records, 1928 pg 6 KNA 15
- ^ "Their initial request for friendship through Garre under Sultan Shaba Aliyow, based on their shared Hawiye lineage was turned down" - Inter-clan Conflict in Mandera District: a Case of the Garre and Murulle, 2004-2009.
- ^ Degoodia who first joined the Garre peacefully as sheegat ( adopted strangers under the protection of a dominant group), eventually joined another immigrant group, murule to fight the Garre
- ^ The Degodia and Murulle were initially grateful to Shaba Aliyow for accepting them and lavished praise songs on him. However, the two communities soon changed tune, singing protest songs, probably due to the increasing influence of the British as an overall authority and the rapidly expanding numbers of the Murule and Degodia, coupled with their fast expanding herds
- ^ a b 2009 KENYA POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 24th/25th August, 2009-Event calendar Chronological Event of Mandera 1884-1988,
- ^ Amani Papers - Dynamics and Trends of Conflict in Greater Mandera Vol | No 2 May 2010
- ^ Inter-clan Conflict in Mandera District: a Case of the Garre and Murulle, 2004-2009.
- ^ According to a report in the Kenyan National Archive (PC/NFD/Monthly Report 1914/1927),
- ^ Abdirashid., Abdullahi (1998). Colonial policies and the failure of Somali secessionism in the Northern frontier district of Kenya colony, c.1890-1968. OCLC 808591110.
- ^ STUDIES IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN THE EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE (1895-1918)
- ^ Britain, Great (1963). Statutory Instruments. H.M. Stationery Office.
- ^ "World Weather Information Service – Mandera". Kenya Meteorological Department. Retrieved 6 April 2012. }}
- ^ {web|url=https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/home.html}}World Weather Information Service. World Meteorological Organization.
External links edit
Category:Countries and territories where Somali is an official language