Kilifi County is county 003 of Kenya’s 47 and the most populous county on the coast outside Mombasa. It covers 12,245.9 km² north of Mombasa, was part of the former Coast Province, and had 1,453,787 residents at the 2019 census. Kilifi town, on the north bank of Kilifi Creek, is the county capital; Malindi is the largest urban centre. The county governor is Gideon Mung’aro.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kilifi |
| County code | 003 |
| Population (2019 census) | 1,453,787 |
| Area | 12,245.9 km² |
| Former province | Coast |
| Sub-counties | 7 |
| Main languages | Kigiriama and other Mijikenda, Swahili, English |
Towns and Villages in Kilifi County
Kilifi County has seven sub-counties, each also a constituency: Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Malindi and Magarini. The coastal strip from Mtwapa through Kikambala, Vipingo, Kilifi and Watamu to Malindi and Mambrui holds the towns; inland, Ganze and Magarini are dry ranching and subsistence country with widely spaced villages. Rabai and Kaloleni sit on the higher, wetter ridge behind Mombasa.
| Town | Type | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Malindi | Town | 119,859 |
| Mtwapa | Town | 90,677 |
| Kilifi | Town, county capital | 74,270 |
| Mariakani | Town | 31,715 |
| Watamu | Town | 27,857 |
| Vipingo | Trading centre | 12,183 |
| Gongoni | Trading centre | 10,993 |
| Takaungu | Trading centre | 10,760 |
| Marereni | Trading centre | 7,085 |
| Kaloleni | Sub-county town | 7,016 |
| Bamba | Trading centre | 2,015 |
The full list below records 238 named towns, villages and localities across the county.
- Arabuko
- Bamba
- Banda ra Salama
- Bandari
- Banya
- Bara Hoyo
- Barani
- Baraza Hall
- Baricho
- Batani
- Bate
- Bengoni
- Bibitoli
- Boma Upande
- Bomani
- Bore Koromi
- Boyani
- Buji Albati
- Bukotwavi
- Bura
- Chakama
- Changombe
- Chanon Point
- Chengo
- Chonyi
- Dagamra
- Dakacha
- Dakawachu
- Dhalado
- Dida
- Dindiri
- Dololo
- Dulukiza
- Dungicha
- Durima Kaya Site
- Dzitsuhe
- Fundisa
- Fundisa Kibaoni
- Galanema
- Ganda
- Ganze
- Ganzoni
- Garania
- Garashi
- Gede
- Gedi
- Giryama
- Gongoni
- Goshi
- Gotani
- Hadu
- Haluabagala
- Ikanga
- Jaribuni
- Jeuri
- Jila
- Jilore
- Jimba
- Jirikokole
- Junju
- Kabiboni
- Kabieni
- Kadzandani
- Kadzeweni
- Kadzinuni
- Kaembekaesha
- Kakomani
- Kakoneni
- Kakuyuni
- Kalaluwe
- Kaloleni
- Kamale
- Kampi ya Kerenzeni
- Kanamai
- Kapangani
- Karimani
- Kasidi
- Kasikini
- Kavuluni
- Kayafungo
- Kazoli
- Kibaoni
- Kibarani
- Kidutani
- Kijangwani
- Kijipwa
- Kijiwetanga
- Kikambala
- Kilifi
- Kilima Cha Simba
- Kinane
- Kinarani
- Kirumbi
- Kisiki Cha Mzungu
- Kisimani
- Kitengani
- Kivunga
- Kizurini
- Korobani
- Kowa Gulecha
- Kurwitu
- Kwa Dadu
- Kwa Demu
- Kwa Gunyo Jogolo
- Kwa Mboya
- Labour Lines
- Lafiti
- Lukongo
- Luswani
- Lutsangani
- Maandani
- Mabimo
- Maduma
- Madungoni
- Mafigani
- Magarini
- Majazini
- Majengo
- Majengo Dololo
- Maji ya Chumvi
- Makasadi
- Makobeni
- Makongani
- Makumbwani
- Malamba
- Malindi
- Mambrui
- Manyeso
- Mapotea
- Marafa
- Marereni
- Mariakani
- Mariango
- Marikebuni
- Matolani
- Matsangoni
- Matsavini
- Mavueni
- Maweni
- Mbaoni
- Mbongo
- Mbuyu Kiwete
- Mbuyuni
- Mdzimure
- Mere
- Mgamboni
- Mida
- Midoina
- Mitangani
- Mitangoni
- Mitsajeni
- Mitunguni
- Mizijini
- Mjanaheri
- Mkaumoto
- Mkomani
- Mkondo wa Simiti
- Mkongani
- Mkuluni
- Mkwajuni
- Mkwajuni/Mkomani
- Mlimani
- Mnarani
- Mnazi Moja
- Mnyenzeni
- Moya
- Msabaha
- Mtepeni
- Mtondia
- Mtsengo
- Mtulu
- Mtwapa
- Mubungoni
- Mukunguni
- Mulunguni
- Muritu
- Mutuli
- Mwabani
- Mwabaya Nyundo
- Mwaga
- Mwahera
- Mwakirunge Kuu
- Mwakunde
- Mwakwala
- Mwalili
- Mwalilo
- Mwambiri
- Mwana Mwinga
- Mwanamare
- Mwando wa Panya
- Mwarakaya
- Mwareni
- Mweza
- Nasibu
- Ndzovuni
- Ngerenya
- Ngindo
- Ngomeni
- Nyalani
- Nyundo
- Palakumi
- Pangani
- Pangayambo
- Penda Kula
- Pingilikani
- Pumwani
- Rabai
- Ramada
- Raromombasa
- Rasi
- Ribe
- Roka
- Ruruma
- Sabaki
- Shakadulo
- Shambweni
- Shauri Moyo
- Sinoia
- Sokoke
- Sosoni
- Takaungu
- Tezo
- Tezo Roka Settlement Scheme
- Thuva
- Tindini
- Toroveni
- Tsangalaweni
- Tsangatsini
- Tsunguni
- Ushingo
- Uyombo
- Vifanjoni
- Vinagoni
- Vipingo
- Vitengeni
- Waresa
- Watamu
- Watara
Geography
Kilifi runs about 265 km along the Indian Ocean, from Mtwapa Creek in the south to the Tana River County line in the north. Behind the coral beach ridge lies a belt of coastal plain, then the drier Nyika plateau inland, rising to around 300 m in Ganze. Kilifi Creek, Mida Creek and Mtwapa Creek cut deep tidal inlets into the shore.
The Sabaki River, the lower course of the Galana, enters the sea just north of Malindi and carries the silt that colours the water there. Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, at about 420 km², is the largest surviving coastal dry forest in East Africa and holds the Sokoke scops owl and golden-rumped elephant shrew. Watamu Marine National Park protects the reef and Mida Creek mangroves. At Marafa, the eroded sandstone gullies known locally as Nyari — Hell’s Kitchen — drop 30 m below the plateau. Rainfall runs from about 1,200 mm on the coast to under 600 mm inland.
Kilifi borders Mombasa County to the south, Kwale County to the south-west, Taita-Taveta County to the west and Tana River County to the north and north-west.
Demographics
The 2019 census counted 1,453,787 people — 704,089 men and 749,673 women — in 298,472 households. Across 12,245.9 km² that is about 119 people per km², though the coastal wards are far denser than Ganze or Magarini.
The Mijikenda are the largest community. The Giriama are the most numerous sub-group, with Chonyi, Kauma, Jibana, Kambe, Ribe and Rabai peoples concentrated in the sub-counties that carry their names. Swahili, Arab and Bajuni families live in Malindi, Mambrui and Takaungu, and Malindi has a long-settled Italian community linked to tourism. Swahili is the common language, Kigiriama the most widely spoken mother tongue, and English is used in schools and offices. Kaya forests — fortified Mijikenda village sites, several inscribed by UNESCO in 2008 — remain sacred sites at Kayafungo, Rabai and Chonyi.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism is the county’s biggest earner, based on Malindi, Watamu, Mtwapa and Kilifi. Beach hotels, the Watamu and Malindi marine parks, the fourteenth-century Gede ruins and the Vasco da Gama Pillar of 1498 anchor the sector. Deep-sea sport fishing operates out of Malindi and Watamu from August to April.
Farming is mixed. The coastal strip grows coconut, cashew, mango, citrus and sim sim; sisal is grown on estates at Vipingo and Kilifi; and Magarini and Ganze rely on maize, cassava, green grams and cowpeas with beef and goat herding. Salt works at Gongoni, Marereni and Fundisa produce most of Kenya’s salt from solar evaporation pans. Mariakani, on the Nairobi highway, is a livestock and dairy centre with a long-running milk plant. Fishing, both artisanal and commercial, employs thousands along the shore, and palm wine tapping remains a widespread rural trade.
Getting There
The B8 runs the length of the county from Mtwapa through Kilifi and Malindi to Garsen and Lamu. Kilifi town is about 56 km north of Mombasa and Malindi about 120 km, both on that road. The A109 Nairobi–Mombasa highway crosses the south-west of the county at Mariakani and Maji ya Chumvi.
The Standard Gauge Railway has a station at Mariakani, served by the Madaraka Express. Malindi Airport takes daily domestic flights from Nairobi Wilson, Mombasa and Lamu. Moi International Airport in Mombasa is the nearest international gateway, about an hour from Kilifi town. The Kilifi Bridge, opened in 1991, replaced the old creek ferry on the B8.
FAQ
What is the capital of Kilifi County?
Kilifi town is the county capital and headquarters. Malindi, further north, is the county’s largest town by population.
How many towns and villages are in Kilifi County?
This page lists 238 named towns, villages and localities, from Malindi and Mtwapa to inland villages such as Vitengeni and Marafa.
Which sub-counties make up Kilifi County?
Seven: Kilifi North, Kilifi South, Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Malindi and Magarini. Each is also a parliamentary constituency.
What is the population of Kilifi County?
The 2019 census recorded 1,453,787 residents, about 119 people per km².
How far is Malindi from Mombasa?
About 120 km by the B8 coast road, a drive of roughly two hours. Malindi Airport also takes daily flights from Mombasa and Nairobi.
What is Hell’s Kitchen in Kilifi?
It is the eroded sandstone gorge at Marafa in Magarini sub-county, known locally as Nyari. Its ridges drop about 30 m and are a well-visited site.