Located in the Gode Zone of the Somali Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 05°35′20″N 44°12′20″E / 5.58889°N 44.20556°E / 5.58889; 44.20556 and an elevation of 233 meters above sea level.

The regional successor to the Muslim states of Ifat and Adal, the Ajuran Sultanate,[1] governed its territories from Qalafo along the upper Shabelle River in eastern Ogaden until its decline in the 17th century.

[3] Kelafo is served by an airport (ICAO code HAKL), and a bridge across the Shebelle River which was scoured in the May 1995 floods.

[4] Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 14,242, of whom 7,522 are men and 6,720 are women.

[5] The 1997 census reported this town had a total population of 9,551 of whom 4,970 were men and 4,581 women.