Kilifi
Kilifi | |
|---|---|
 Kilifi Bridge | |
| Coordinates: 3°38′S 39°51′E / 3.633°S 39.850°E | |
| Country |  Kenya |
| County | Kilifi County |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 122,899[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Kilifi is a town on the coast of Kenya, 56 kilometres (35 mi) northeast of Mombasa by road. Kilifi had a population of 122,899 in 2009.[1] The town lies on the Kilifi Creek and sits on the river mouth of Goshi River.[2]
Kilifi is known for its sandy beaches and for the Mnarani ruins, including mosques and tombs, dating from the 14th to the 17th century.
Geography and climate
[change | change source]Kilifi town sits on both sides of the Kilifi Creek and is linked by the Kilifi Bridge which overlooks the river mouth.[2] The south side has the Mnarani ruins and Shauri Moyo beach while the north side is the main part of Kilifi town and Bofa beach.
The weather is generally warm throughout the year (above 25 °C) with two seasons of moderate rainfall (about 800–1000 mm). Long periods of rain start around March and last into July, while the short periods start around October and last until December.
Demographics
[change | change source]Kilifi is a cosmopolitan town with mixed ethnic groups. The predominant inhabitants (about 80%) are from the Mijikenda groups (mainly Giriama and Chonyi).[3] Other groups include the Swahili-Arab descendants, Barawas, Bajunis, Somalis as well as other groups from inland. There is a handful of Indians, and Europeans, mainly British, German and Italian.
Economy
[change | change source]
Like every coastal town, fishing in Kilifi is one of the historical economic activities. With time, the town has slowly been transforming from a fishing village to basic industrial and service.
The growth of the town was mainly fuelled by the cashew nut milling factory between 1976 and 1990; the district has been a producer of cashews since 1930.[4] The town almost became a ghost town when the factory was closed in 1990 due to a decline in nuts supply, mismanagement of the factory and increased global competition.[5] Other industrial activities include sisal farming at Kilifi plantations.
Banking activity has been growing with about 7 banks (KCB, Barclays, Postbank, Imperial, Equity, Cooperative, Diamond Trust Bank and most recently National Bank) as well as microfinance institutions. Retail businesses and hotels have historically been significant economic activities.
Tourism
[change | change source]Tourism is an important economic activity in Kilifi, supported by its beaches, historical sites, and cultural heritage. Kilifi has a coastline with several kilometers of sandy beaches, including Bofa beach, which is noted for its clear waters and white sands. The area offers a less commercialized alternative compared to nearby destinations such as Malindi and Watamu.
Historical landmarks, such as the Mnarani ruins from the 14th century, contribute to Kilifi's appeal, providing insight into the region's Swahili history. Cultural festivals in Kilifi also highlight the traditions of the local Mijikenda communities, drawing visitors from both within Kenya and abroad.
Health
[change | change source]The Kilifi County Hospital, which is also a referral hospital, serves all of Kilifi County and also supports the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme,[6] a large medical research centre collaborative between Kenya's KEMRI and the British Wellcome Trust, known for its work on malaria and bacterial and viral childhood infections. Several other private clinics can be found here. The Khairat Medical Centre which was recently opened is equipped with a modern laboratory, x-ray, and scan machines with qualified personnel.
In popular culture
[change | change source]- 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.[7][8]
- 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 early 2020s of the Russian writer Andy and his wife Jennifer, who was born in Kenya.[9][10]
References
[change | change source]- 1 2 "2009 Census Vol 1 Table 3 Rural and Urban Population | Open Data Portal". Archived from the original on 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- 1 2 Weiss, Robert; Bahlburg, Heinrich (2006). "The Coast of Kenya Field Survey after the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami". Earthquake Spectra. 22 (S3): S235–S240. doi:10.1193/1.2201970. S2CID 110486072.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Wekesa, E.; Mwangi, W.; Verkuijl, H. Adoption of Maize Production Technologies in the Coastal Lowlands of Kenya. CIMMYT. p. 6. ISBN 978-970-648-099-6.
- ↑ Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard). 5 July 2006. p. 11.
- ↑ "Kenya: How Brokers Drove Cashew Nut Farmers into Poverty". 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ↑ "KEMRI Wellcome Trust". KEMRI Wellcome Trust. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ↑ Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, IMDb.com.
- ↑ Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Allmovie.com
- ↑ Review of “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) on the site of public fund "Union of Writers of Moscow", 2023. Archived 2025-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) by Andrei Gusev, 2022. Archived 2025-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
