Witu[1] is a small market town in the Lamu County of Kenya, East Africa. Formerly it was the capital of Wituland.
Witu | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 02°23′20″S 40°26′16″E / 2.38889°S 40.43778°E | |
Country | Kenya |
Counties | Lamu County |
Elevation | 22 m (72 ft) |
Population (2013 Estimate) | |
• Total | 5,380 |
Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Location edit
It is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of the Witu Forest. It is on the Garsen–Witu–Lamu Highway (C-112) between Mkunumbi, 33 kilometres (20.5 mi) to the east, and Garsen, 44 kilometres (27.3 mi) to the west. A secondary road leads 21 kilometres (13.0 mi) south to Kipini on the coast.[2] The coordinates of Witu, Kenya are: 2°23'20.0"S, 40°26'16.0"E (Latitude:-2.388897; Longitude:40.437769).[3] The average elevation of the town is about 22 metres (72 ft).[4]
Population edit
As of September 2013, the population of the town was estimated at 5,380.[5]
Wituland edit
Witu was the centre of an inland empire of approximately 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi). It was inhabited by slaves fleeing the Zanzibar slave trade, and was thus a target of attacks from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, circa 1850.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Witu (Approved) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- ^ Trillo, Richard (2010). The Rough Guide to Kenya. London: Penguin. pp. 474–475. ISBN 978-1-84836-973-3.
- ^ Google (9 April 2016). "Location of Witu, Lamu County, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ FMN (9 April 2016). "Elevation of Witu, Kenya". Floodmap.net (FMN). Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ MBC (6 September 2013). "Population of Witu, Kenya". Mongabay.com (MBC). Retrieved 9 April 2016.