# Kilifi County

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 . The county had a population of 1,453,787 people following the 2019 census and covers an area of 12,245.90 km$^2$ (4,728.17 sq mi).
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 was in 2025 listed by the New York Times among 'Top 52 Places to visit in 2025'.

## 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.

## 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

* Christian (67.8%)
* Muslim (17.6%)
* Other Religions (4.3%)
* Atheist/No data (10.3%)
Kilifi County has a Christian majority, with 68% of residents professing Christianity. 18% of residents are Muslim and 10% are atheist.

## Administrative divisions

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

### Constituencies

The county has 7 Constituencies:
| Constituency | Population (2009 census) | Area (km$^2$) | 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/Kisurutuni |
| Ganze | 137,664 | 2,942 | 4 | Ganze, Bamba, Jaribuni, Sokoke |
| Malindi | 162,712 | 627 | 5 | Jilore, Kakuyuni, Ganda, Malindi Town, Shella |
| Magarini | 177,241 | 6,979 | 6 | Maarafa, Magarini, Gongoni, Adu, Garashi, Sabaki |
| Total | 1,109,735 | 12,245.90 | 35 | 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 Committee :
| | Number |
| The Governor | 1 |
| The Deputy Governor | 1 |
| The County Secretary | 1 |
| The CEC Members | 10 |
| Total | 13 |
Source

## Education

Kilifi County has 1071 ECD centres, 757 primary schools, 178 secondary schools, 13 youth polytechnics, and 280 adult education centres.
Educational institutions in Kilifi County, 2014 :
| 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.
Health Facilities by Ownership :
| | 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.
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.

## 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.
* The novel “MALI D’AFRICA” (by Sara Cardelli) describes an impossible love in Malindi.
* 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.

## 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