Kilifi County

Not to be confused with Kilifi.

Kilifi County
County
An African pied wagtail in Kilifi, Kenya
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Formed	4 March 2013
Capital	Kilifi
Government
•  Governor	Gideon Mung'aro
Area
• Total	12,245.9 km2 (4,728.2 sq mi)
Population  (2019)
• Total	1,440,958
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
•  GDP	$5.931 billion (12th)(2022) [1]
•  Per Capita	$3,831 (2022) (26th)
GDP (NOMINAL)
• GDP	$2.178 billion (2022) (12th)
• Per Capita	$1,407 (2022) (26th)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Website	www.kilifi.go.ke

Kilifi County is a County Located in the Kenyan coast. 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

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]

Kilifi was in 2025 listed by the New York Times among 'Top 52 Places to visit in 2025'. ^[2]

Economy

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. ^[13]

Agriculture

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. ^[14] 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

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. ^{[15] [16]} The major communities living in Kilifi County include Mijikenda, ^[17] Swahili,^{[ citation needed ]} Bajuni, ^[18] Indians, Arabs and Europeans.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
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: [19]

Religion

1. Christian (67.8%)
2. Muslim (17.6%)
3. Other Religions (4.3%)
4. Atheist/No data (10.3%)

Religion in Kilifi County ^[20]

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

Kilifi county has 7 sub-counties and 35 county assembly wards. ^[21]

Constituencies

The county has 7 Constituencies: ^[22]

Constituency	Population (2009 census)	Area (km2)	Number of wards	Wards
Kilifi North	207,587	405	7	Tezo, Sokoni, Kibarani, Dabaso, Matsangoni, Watamu, Mnarani
Kilifi South	171,607	401	5	Junju, Mwarakaya, Shimo la Tewa, Chasimba, Mtepeni
Kaloleni	139,302	651	4	Mariakani, Kayafungo, Kaloleni, Mwana Mwinga
Rabai	113,622	241	4	Mwawesa, Ruruma, Kambe-Ribe, Rabai
Ganze	137,664	2,942	4	Ganze, Bamba, Jaribuni, Sokoke
Malindi	162,712	627	5	Jilore, Kakuyuni, Ganda, Malindi , Shella
Magarini	177,241	6,979	6	Maarafa, Magarini, Gongoni, Adu, Garashi, Sabaki
Total	1,109,735	12,245.90	35

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

Gideon Mung'aro is the current governor of Kilifi County, having served since August 2022. ^[23] Stewart Madzayo has represented Kilifi County in the Senate since 2017. ^{[24] [25]} Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje is the woman representative elected in 2017. ^[26]

County Executive Committee

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

Source ^[27]

Education

Kilifi County has 1071 ECD centres, 757 primary schools, 178 secondary schools, 13 youth polytechnics, and 280 adult education centres. ^[28]

Educational institutions in Kilifi County, 2014 ^[29]

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

There are a total of 235 health facilities in the county with one county referral hospital. ^[30]

Health Facilities by Ownership ^[31]

	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

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. ^[30]

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. ^[32]

Image gallery

• 
  Watamu Beach
• 
  Sun rises over the Indian Ocean at Malindi
• 
  Vasco da Gama Pillar in Malindi
• 
  Mnarani ruins
• 
  Kilifi University

In popular culture

• 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. ^{[33] [34]}

• The novel “MALI D’AFRICA” (by Sara Cardelli) describes an impossible love in Malindi. ^[35]

• 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. ^{[36] [37]}

Villages and settlements

• Banda Ra Salama
• Bibitoli
• Bukatwavi
• Bara Hoyo
• Belewa
• Buji Albati
• Chakama
• Chonyi
• Chonye
• Dakacha
• Dakawachu
• Dindiri
• Dulukiza
• Dzitsuhe
• Fundi Isa
• Jarabuni
• Luswani
• Malindi
• Ushingo
• Vipingo
• Waresa
• Watamu
• Ganda
• Kwaupanga
• Girigi
• Pendukiani
• Mere
• Mshongoleni
• Mikomani
• Kararacha
• Matsanjeni
• Bora upanga
• Roka Maweni
• Kavure ngopo
• Bundacho
• Fimboni
• Swere

See also

• Mombasa County
• Kwale County
• Tana River County
• Lamu County
• Taita-Taveta County

References

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. Retrieved 29 May 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
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. MRM (4 May 2020). "MABATI ROLLING MILLS (MRM) DONATES FOOD STUFFS TO FAMILIES IN KILIFI COUNTY". MABATI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
14. Government, Kilifi County. "AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK & FISHERIES". Kilifi County Government. Retrieved 29 May 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. "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.
18. "The Bajuni People". Journey Kenya. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
19. "KENYA: Administrative Division population statistics". Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
20. "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.
21. "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.
22. "Kilifi County". Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
23. "Governors & Deputy Governors". cog.go.ke. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
24. "Members of the Senate | The Kenyan Parliament Website". parliament.go.ke. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
25. "Stewart Mwachiru Shadrack Madzayo". Mzalendo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
26. "Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje". Mzalendo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
27. "179. County executive committees – Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC)". klrc.go.ke. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
28. "Ministry of Education". education.go.ke. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
29. "Publications". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
30. "Kilifi County Statistical Abstract 2015". Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
31. Government, Kilifi County. "Health Services Kilifi County". Kilifi County Government. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
32. 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.
33. Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine , IMDb.com.
34. Nel continente nero Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine , Allmovie.com
35. The impossible love in the italian Malindi Archived 6 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine — about Sara Cardelli’ novel, 2017.
36. Review of “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) on the site of public fund "Union of writers of Moscow", 2023
37. “Невозвращенец” (“The Non-Returnee”) by Andrei Gusev, 2022

External links

• Districts of Kenya
• CIA World Fact Book on Kenya
• Article title ^{[ dead link ]}

3°40′00″S39°45′00″E / 3.66667°S 39.75°E / -3.66667; 39.75