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Kilifi County

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Kilifi County
County
An African pied wagtail in Kilifi, Kenya
An African pied wagtail in Kilifi, Kenya
Flag of Kilifi County
Flag
Coat of arms of Kilifi County
Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Location in Kenya
CountryKenya
Formed4 March 2013
CapitalKilifi
Government
 • GovernorGideon Mung'aro
Area
 • Total
12,245.9 km2 (4,728.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total
1,440,958
 • Density117.669/km2 (304.760/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • GDPIncrease $5.931 billion (12th)(2022)[1]
 • Per CapitaIncrease $3,831 (2022) (26th)
GDP (NOMINAL)
 • GDPIncrease $2.178 billion (2022) (12th)
 • Per CapitaIncrease $1,407 (2022) (26th)
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Websitewww.kilifi.go.ke

Kilifi County is a Kenyan county. It was formed in 2010 as a result of a merger of Kilifi District and Malindi District, Kenya. Its capital is Kilifi and its largest town is Malindi .[2] The county had a population of 1,453,787 people following the 2019 census and covers an area of 12,245.90 km2 (4,728.17 sq mi).[3][4]

The county is located north and northeast of Mombasa. Kilifi has fewer tourists than Mombasa County, however there is some tourism in Kikambala, Watamu, Malindi and Kilifi. The county is known for the Ruins of Gedi, which includes mosques[5] and tombs[6] dating from the 11th to the 17th century.

Tourism

[edit]

Tourism and fishing in Kilifi County are the major economic activities due to its proximity to the Indian Ocean. The major tourist attractions in Kilifi County are the Ruins of Gedi,[7] Watamu Marine National Park,[8] the Malindi Museum,[9] the Rabai Museum,[10] Matungu Beach, and the Kaya forest.[11] It also contains the Mnarani ruins that date back to between the 14th and 17th century.[12]

In January 2025, Kilifi was included at number 32 in The New York Times's "52 Places to Go in 2025" list.[13]

Tourist areas and activities

[edit]

Tourism in Kilifi County is centred on the coastal corridor, combining beach and resort tourism with marine recreation, heritage tourism, forest visits and cultural excursions. The southern coast around Mtwapa, Kikambala and Vipingo includes beach resorts, the Jumba la Mtwana archaeological site on Mtwapa Creek, and Vipingo Ridge, which has an 18-hole PGA championship golf course, a wildlife sanctuary and a beach club.[14][15]

Around Kilifi town, Kilifi Creek and the Mnarani ruins provide a combination of coastal recreation and archaeological interest. The Watamu–Gede area brings together beaches, Watamu Marine National Park, the Gede ruins and Arabuko Sokoke Forest, while nearby Mida Creek supports mangrove walks, birdwatching and other nature-based activities. Visitors undertake snorkelling, diving, glass-bottom boat excursions, swimming, beach walks, birdwatching, forest walks, cycling and camping.[16][17][18]

Malindi is a centre for marine and cultural tourism. Activities in the Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve include snorkelling, glass-bottom boat rides, windsurfing, camping and beach walks. The town's attractions include the Malindi Museum, the Vasco da Gama Pillar and the Portuguese Chapel. Inland excursions include the Rabai Museum and the Marafa Depression, also known as Hell's Kitchen.[19][20][21][22]

[edit]

Modern tourism in Kilifi developed around the coastal resorts of Malindi and Watamu. The first hotel in Malindi is reported to have opened in 1932. The establishment of Watamu Marine National Park in 1968 marked an important milestone in the development of marine conservation and coastal tourism in the area.[23][24]

Visitor numbers at major heritage attractions show both the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a strong subsequent recovery. In 2019, Gede National Monument recorded 91,022 visits, compared with 6,787 in 2020 and 80,816 in 2023. Malindi Museum recorded 37,492 visits in 2019, 7,787 in 2020 and 37,260 in 2023, while Jumba la Mtwana recorded 11,327, 4,884 and 17,460 visits respectively.[25]

The county also has one of Kenya's largest concentrations of tourist accommodation. In 2024, Kilifi had 14,997 licensed hotel beds, representing 11.1% of the national total.[26]

Cultural heritage

[edit]

Kilifi County's cultural heritage reflects the history of the Swahili coast, the traditions of the Mijikenda peoples, and later Portuguese, Arab and Christian influences. Its heritage is represented by archaeological sites, museums, historic buildings, sacred forests, oral traditions, performing arts and coastal cuisine.

Heritage sites

[edit]

The Gede ruins are the county's most prominent archaeological site. The settlement developed from at least the 12th century, reached its height in the 15th century and was abandoned during the 17th century. Its remains include mosques, a palace, houses, tombs, wells and defensive walls, set within a forested landscape. In 2024, the Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi was inscribed on the World Heritage List for its testimony to Swahili civilisation and architecture.[27][28]

Jumba la Mtwana lies near Mtwapa Creek and contains the remains of mosques, tombs, houses and wells. Ceramic evidence indicates that the settlement was built during the 14th century and abandoned in the early 15th century. The site was excavated in the 1970s and gazetted as a national monument in 1982.[29]

The Mnarani ruins, on Kilifi Creek, are associated with a settlement that was occupied from approximately the 14th to the 17th century. The site includes the remains of a mosque and tombs, while a large baobab tree nearby has traditionally been associated with rituals. The surrounding forest patch has medicinal and sacred importance in local traditions.[30]

The Malindi Cultural Complex occupies a historic building in Malindi. Its exhibitions include Mijikenda and Taita-Dawida material on the upper floor, and Swahili culture and underwater cultural heritage on the ground floor. Other historic sites in Malindi include the Vasco da Gama Pillar, erected after the Portuguese navigator's arrival in 1498, and the Portuguese Chapel.[31][32]

The Rabai Museum, also known as the Krapf Memorial Museum, documents the history of early Christianity and formal education on the coast. It is associated with the German missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf and with St Paul's Anglican Church, built at Rabai in 1846. The mission also played a role in the emancipation of enslaved people in East Africa.[33]

Sacred forests and living traditions

[edit]

Several of the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests are located in Kilifi County. The kaya forests contain the remains of fortified Mijikenda villages established from around the 16th century. Although many of the settlements were abandoned by the 1940s, the forests remain ancestral places and are maintained through councils of elders. They contain shrines, burial places and other sites of spiritual significance.[34][35]

The traditions associated with the kayas form part of the living cultural heritage of the Mijikenda. They include oral histories, prayers, oath-taking, burial rites, the use of charms and performing arts. These practices express Mijikenda identity and continue to be regulated by elders. The traditions associated with the kayas were inscribed by UNESCO in 2009 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.[36]

Museums and community-based heritage initiatives provide settings in which local history, dress, music, oral traditions, crafts and material culture can be interpreted for visitors. Sacred ceremonies and restricted sites, however, remain subject to customary authority and are not treated simply as tourist performances.

Culinary heritage

[edit]

Kilifi forms part of Kenya's Swahili coastal culinary region. Local food traditions draw on rice, seafood, coconut, spices and tropical produce, reflecting centuries of interaction between African, Arab, Indian and European communities. Common dishes and snacks associated with the coast include biryani, pilau, grilled fish, coconut-based curries, mahamri, viazi karai and mishkaki. Restaurants, markets, hotels and cultural events provide settings in which this culinary heritage is experienced by residents and visitors.[37]

Economy

[edit]

The county has a strong industrial sector with the Mabati Rolling Mill and the Athi River Cement Factory contributing heavily to the region's economy in employment provision and income generation.[38]

Kilifi County is also home to Africa's largest medical device manufacturer-Revital Healthcare (EPZ) Limited which was founded in 2008 to champion healthcare manufacturing and sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. ,

Tourism

[edit]

Tourism has a significant economic impact in Kilifi County. Tourist spending creates demand for accommodation, food and beverage services, transport, guiding, boat excursions, cultural interpretation and craft products. The sector also provides markets for local farmers, fishers, artisans and other small businesses, although activity is affected by seasonality, external shocks and environmental pressures. In 2024, Kilifi had 14,997 licensed hotel beds, representing 11.1% of Kenya's national total.[39]

Nature-based tourism also supports community enterprises around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek, including butterfly farming, beekeeping, eco-tour guiding, bandas and mangrove boardwalks.[40]

Luigi Broglio Space Centre

[edit]

The Luigi Broglio Space Centre, also known as the Malindi Space Centre, is an Italian Space Agency facility in Kilifi County, approximately 32 kilometres from Malindi. It consists of a Sea Segment, formerly used for launches from offshore platforms, and a Land Segment containing satellite communications and tracking facilities. The centre was established in the 1960s, and its offshore platforms were inaugurated in 1967. Nine satellites were launched from the site between 1967 and 1988, in approximately 20 orbital missions. Although the launch platforms have not been used since 1988, the Land Segment continues to operate ground stations and support satellite-related activities.[41]

The centre also hosts cooperation and training activities involving the Kenya Space Agency and other international partners. A Regional Centre for Earth Observation training facility has been established at the centre to strengthen local and regional capacity in satellite applications and Earth observation.[42]

Agriculture

[edit]

Opportunities exist in agriculture, particularly dairy and crop farming thanks to fertile soil and good weather. The county had a successful cashew nut milling industry.[43] Maize and cassava are the main subsistence crops and the main cash crops grown in the county include coconuts, cashew nuts, sisal, citrus fruits, mangoes and pineapples.

Demographics

[edit]

Kilifi county has a total population of 1,453,787, of which 704,089 are males, 749,673 are females and 25 are intersex persons. There are 298,472 households, with 4.4 persons per household on average, and a population density of 116 people per square kilometre.[44][45] The major communities living in Kilifi County include Mijikenda,[46] Swahili,[citation needed] Bajuni,[47] Indians, Arabs and Europeans.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1979 430,986—    
1989 591,903+37.3%
1999 825,855+39.5%
2009 1,109,735+34.4%
2019 1,440,958+29.8%
source:[48]

Religion

[edit]
  1. Christian (67.8%)
  2. Muslim (17.6%)
  3. Other Religions (4.30%)
  4. Atheist/No data (10.3%)
Religion in Kilifi County[49]

Kilifi County has a Christian majority, with 68% of residents professing Christianity. 18% of residents are Muslim and 10% are atheist/no data.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Kilifi county has 7 sub-counties and 35 county assembly wards.[50]

Constituencies

[edit]

The county has 7 Constituencies:[51]

ConstituencyPopulation

(2009 census)

 Area (km2)Number of wardsWards
Kilifi North207,5874057Tezo, Sokoni, Kibarani, Dabaso, Matsangoni, Watamu, Mnarani
Kilifi South171,6074015Junju, Mwarakaya, Shimo la Tewa, Chasimba, Mtepeni
Kaloleni139,3026514Mariakani, Kayafungo, Kaloleni, Mwana Mwinga
Rabai113,6222414Mwawesa, Ruruma, Kambe-Ribe, Rabai
Ganze137,6642,9424Ganze, Bamba, Jaribuni, Sokoke
Malindi162,7126275Jilore, Kakuyuni, Ganda, Malindi, Shella
Magarini177,2416,9796Maarafa, Magarini, Gongoni, Adu, Garashi, Sabaki
Total1,109,73512,245.9035

Bahari Constituency, which was formed in 1988, was disbanded in 2013 and superseded by two new constituencies, Kilifi North Constituency and Kilifi South Constituency.

Politics

[edit]

Gideon Mung'aro is the current governor of Kilifi County, having served since August 2022.[52] Stewart Madzayo has represented Kilifi County in the Senate since 2017.[53][54] Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje is the woman representative elected in 2017.[55]

County Executive Committee
Number
The Governor 1
The Deputy Governor 1
The County Secretary 1
The CEC Members 10
Total 13

Source[56]

Education

[edit]

Kilifi County has 1071 ECD centres, 757 primary schools, 178 secondary schools, 13 youth polytechnics, and 280 adult education centres.[57]

Educational institutions in Kilifi County, 2014[58]
Category Public Private Total Enrolment
ECD Centres 602 469 1071 104,362
Primary schools 526 231 757 310,007
Secondary schools 132 46 178 47,010
Youth Polytechnics 13 0 13
Adult Education Centres 280 0 280

Health

[edit]

There are a total of 235 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital.[59]

Health Facilities by Ownership[60]
Government *FBO Private NGO TOTAL
Hospitals 5 2 10 0 17
Health centres 13 0 1 3 17
Dispensaries 70 11 2 4 87
Clinics 1 0 109 4 113

Transport and Communication

[edit]

The county is covered by a network of 3,678.6 km of roads. Of this, 2,230.9 km is surfaced by earth, 1,091.5 km is surfaced by murram and 356.2 km is covered by bitumen.[59]

The county's main highways are Mombasa Malindi highway and Kaloleni Mavueni.

There are 7 post offices, with 6,800 installed letter boxes, 6,120 rented letter boxes and 680 vacant letter boxes.[61]

[edit]
[edit]
  • The final scenes of the 1992 feature film “Nel continente nero” (“On the Black Continent”) by director Marco Rizi take place in Kilifi County, among the ruins of Gedi.[62][63]
  • The novel “MALI D’AFRICA” (by Sara Cardelli) describes an impossible love in Malindi.[64]
  • Most of the events in the novel “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) by Andrei Gusev take place in Kilifi County and in Kilifi itself. The novel describes several years of life in Kilifi County, in the suburbs of Malindi in the early 2020s of the Russian writer Andy and his wife Jennifer, who was born in Kenya.[65][66]

Villages and settlements

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Kiambu GCP". Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Paul. "Kenyan Coast | Indian Ocean | Beach Holidays | Diani | Lamu | Mombasa". travelbutlers.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Government, Kilifi County. "Position and Size". Kilifi County Government. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Distribution of by Administrative Units. Volume 2" (PDF). Africa Check. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Mosque in Islam | All About Turkey". allaboutturkey.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Mark, Joshua J. "Tomb". World History Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Ruins of Gedi". Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "About W.M.A. – Watamu Marine Association". Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Malindi Museum: Malindi Museum Kenya 2020 guide". Bwindi Forest National Park. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Rabai Museum". UpKenya. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Kaya Forests – Kenya". Sacred Land. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  12. ↑ Kilifi County Archived 20 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "52 Places to Go in 2025". The New York Times. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Jumba la Mtwana". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Our Story". Vipingo Ridge. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Mnarani". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Watamu Marine National Park & Reserve". Kenya Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kenya". Kenya Forest Service. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Malindi Marine National Park & Reserve". Kenya Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Vasco da Gama Pillar". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "Rabai Museum". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  22. ↑ "Erosion turns Hell's Kitchen into a marvel of light and colour". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Evolution of tourism in Malindi: Old glory lost to habitat, security woes". The Star. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "Watamu's Coral Renaissance: Science, Community and Resilience in One of the World's Oldest Marine Parks". Kenya Wildlife Service. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  25. ↑ Tourism Sector Performance Report 2023 (PDF) (Report). Tourism Research Institute. pp. 8–9, 53. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  26. ↑ Tourism Sector Performance Report 2024 (PDF) (Report). Tourism Research Institute. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  27. ↑ "Gede Museum". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  29. ↑ "Jumba la Mtwana". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  30. ↑ "Mnarani". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "Malindi Cultural Complex". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  32. ↑ "Vasco da Gama Pillar". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  33. ↑ "Rabai Museum". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  34. ↑ "Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  35. ↑ "Kaya Kauma Project". National Museums of Kenya. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  36. ↑ "Traditions and practices associated with the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda". UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  37. ↑ "Swahili dishes". Kenya Tourism Board. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  38. ↑ MRM (4 May 2020). "MABATI ROLLING MILLS (MRM) DONATES FOOD STUFFS TO FAMILIES IN KILIFI COUNTY". MABATI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  39. ↑ Tourism Sector Performance Report 2024 (PDF) (Report). Tourism Research Institute. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  40. ↑ "Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Kenya". Kenya Forest Service. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  41. ↑ "Luigi Broglio Space Center". Italian Space Agency. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  42. ↑ "Regional Centre for Earth Observation". Kenya Space Agency. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  43. ↑ Government, Kilifi County. "AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK & FISHERIES". Kilifi County Government. Retrieved 29 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
  44. ↑ Munene, Evans (4 November 2019). "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Results". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  45. ↑ 2019 Kenya Population and House Census: Volume 1 – Population by County and Sub-county. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2019. pp. 17, 19, 20, 22, 31, 40. ISBN 9789966102096. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  46. ↑ "Details of the Mijikenda Tribe and People and their Culture in Kenya". Go Visit Kenya. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  47. ↑ "The Bajuni People". Journey Kenya. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  48. ↑ "KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics". Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  49. ↑ "2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume IV: Distribution of Population by Socio-Economic Characteristics" (PDF). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  50. ↑ "The Report of the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC): Delimitation of Constituencies and Recommendations on Local Authority Electoral Units and Administrative Boundaries for Districts and Other Units" (PDF). IEBC. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  51. ↑ "Kilifi County". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  52. ↑ "Governors & Deputy Governors". cog.go.ke. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  53. ↑ "Members of the Senate | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  54. ↑ "Stewart Mwachiru Shadrack Madzayo". Mzalendo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  55. ↑ "Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje". Mzalendo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  56. ↑ "179. County executive committees – Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)". klrc.go.ke. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  57. ↑ "Ministry of Education". education.go.ke. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  58. ↑ "Publications". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  59. 1 2 "Kilifi County Statistical Abstract 2015". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  60. ↑ Government, Kilifi County. "Health Services Kilifi County". Kilifi County Government. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  61. ↑ County Statistical Abstract Kilifi County 2015. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2015. p. 38. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  62. ↑ Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, IMDb.com.
  63. ↑ Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Allmovie.com
  64. ↑ The impossible love in the italian Malindi Archived 6 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine — about Sara Cardelli’ novel, 2017.
  65. ↑ Review of “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) on the site of public fund "Union of Writers of Moscow", 2023
  66. ↑ “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) by Andrei Gusev, 2022
[edit]

3°40′00″S 39°45′00″E / 3.66667°S 39.75°E / -3.66667; 39.75

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