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 . The county had a population of 1,453,787 people following the 2019 census and covers an area of .
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 and tombs 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, Watamu Marine National Park, the Malindi Museum, the Rabai Museum, Matungu Beach, and the Kaya forest. It also contains the Mnarani ruins that date back to between the 14th and 17th century.Kilifi County
In January 2025, Kilifi was included at number 32 in The New York Timess "52 Places to Go in 2025" list.
Tourist areas and activities
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.
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.
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.
History and trends
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.
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.
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.
Cultural heritage
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sacred forests and living traditions
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Luigi Broglio Space Centre
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.
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.
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. 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. The major communities living in Kilifi County include Mijikenda, Swahili, Bajuni, Indians, Arabs and Europeans.
Religion 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.
Constituencies The county has 7 Constituencies: 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. Stewart Madzayo has represented Kilifi County in the Senate since 2017. Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje is the woman representative elected in 2017. +County Executive CommitteeNumberThe Governor1The Deputy Governor1The County Secretary1The CEC Members10Total13 Source
Education
Kilifi County has 1071 ECD centres, 757 primary schools, 178 secondary schools, 13 youth polytechnics, and 280 adult education centres.