What is "mwatate"

Mwatate is a town in Taita-Taveta County, Kenya, in the southern side of the Taita Hills. It is the county capital as well as the headquarters of the Mwatate administrative division of Taita district. Mwatate held the headquarters of the whole district during the British colonial rule from 1900 to 1912, when the headquarters moved to Voi. Teita sisal estate, one of the largest sisal estates in world, is also located near the town of Mwatate.

Mwatate division has a total population of 56,365. The division has an urban population of 3,386, most of them are from Mwatate location but recent years have seen an influx of outside tribes. This is mostly because of people moving in to try several businesses in the town and also some are attracted by the lucrative business of buying and selling the precious stone called Tsavorite ( green Garnet), that is found around the area.

Mwatate has a railway station along the branch line from Voi to Tanzania. However, passenger service along the track has been suspended years ago.

The village of Bura is located 10 kilometres west of Mwatate.