Kilifi County

The brief

About Kilifi County

Kilifi County occupies Kenya's northern coastline, bordering Mombasa, Kwale, Tana River, and the Indian Ocean. Kilifi Town is the headquarters while Malindi is a major tourism centre. Sandy beaches, mangrove forests, coral reefs, and fertile hinterlands define its geography. The population is predominantly Mijikenda, especially the Giriama, alongside Swahili and other Kenyan communities. Agriculture, fishing, tourism, salt production, and trade drive the economy, with cassava, maize, coconuts, cashew nuts, mangoes, and horticulture among the leading products. Kilifi is renowned for Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi, and the UNESCO-listed Kaya forests. Historically it formed part of the ancient Swahili trading network linking East Africa with Arabia and Asia.

Population

1,453,787

Male (53%)

772,094

Female (56%)

821,067

Area

12,553 km²

Sub-counties

9

Capital

Kilifi