Mwatate is a town in Taita-Taveta County,

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. It is the county capital, although it is the fourth-largest town in the county. Other urban centers in Taita-Taveta County include Voi,

Wundanyi Wundanyi is a town in the Taita-Taveta County of Kenya. Other urban centres in the county include Voi, Taveta and Mwatate. Location Wundanyi is located approximately north of Mwatate, the location of the county headquarters. This is about we ...

and Taveta.

Location

Mwatate lies about south-west of Voi, the largest town in the county. This is approximately north-west of the port city of

Mombasa Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...

, the nearest large city. Mwatate is located about south-east of

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

, the capital and largest city in Kenya. The coordinates of Mwatate are: 03°30'17.0"S, 38°22'40.0"E (Latitude:-3.504720; Longitude:38.377782).

Overview

Mwatate held the headquarters of the whole district during the British colonial rule from 1900 to 1912, when the headquarters moved to Voi.Bravman B.: Making ethnic ways: communities and their transformation in Taita, Kenya 1800-1950 (1998)

Teita Sisal Estate The Teita Sisal Estate is one of the largest sisal estates in the world, and the largest in East Africa. It is located in Kenya's Taita-Taveta County, in the former Coast Province, near the town of Mwatate. The company is active in growing sisal ...

, one of the largest sisal estates in world, is also located near the town of Mwatate. The town lies at an average elevation of , above sea level.

Population

In 2011, the population of Taita-Taveta County was quoted at 284,657. As of May 2015, the population of Mwatate town was estimated at 1.95 percent of the county population, about 5,551 people. The population of the town has increased in recent years partly because of people migrating to town to establish businesses and others are attracted by the lucrative business of buying and selling the precious stone called

Tsavorite Tsavorite or tsavolite is a variety of the garnet group species grossular, a calcium-aluminium garnet with the formula Ca3 Al2 Si3 O12.Gemological Institute of America, ''GIA Gem Reference Guide'' 1995, Trace amounts of vanadium or chromium prov ...

, that is found around the area.

References

External links

Website of Taita-Taveta County, Kenya
{{Authority control Populated places in Kenya Populated places in Taita-Taveta County