WITU or VITU, a sultanate of East Africa included in the Tanaland province of Kenya Colony. It extends along the coast from the town of Kipini at the mouth of the Ozi river (2° 3o' S.) to the northern limit of Manda bay (2° S.) ; area 1,200 sq.m. The chief town, Witu, is 16 m. N. of Kipini. The state was founded by Ahmed-bin-Fumo Luti, the last Nabhan sultan of Patta (an island off the coast), who was defeated by Seyyid Majid of Zanzibar. Ahmed, about 186o, took refuge in the forest district, and made himself an independent chief, acquiring the title of Simba or the Lion. In 1885 Ahmed was induced to place
his country under German protection, but in 1890 as the result of the Anglo-German agreement of that year the protectorate was transferred to Great Britain. In 1894 Omar-bin-Hamed of the Nabhan dynasty—an ancient race of Asiatic origin—was recog nized as sultan, and Witu settled down to a peaceful life.