Coast authorities impose 6:00 pm beach curfew to curb drownings and crime during festive season
The restriction, enforced through a joint approach involving county administrations, security agencies and beach management units, bars public access to beaches after sunset.
Coastal county authorities have imposed a 6:00 pm curfew on public beaches in an effort to reduce insecurity and prevent drowning incidents during the busy festive holiday season, as thousands of residents and tourists flock to the shoreline.
The restriction, enforced through a joint approach involving county administrations, security agencies and beach management units, bars public access to beaches after sunset.
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Officials say the measure will allow security officers to patrol more effectively while reducing risks linked to rough tides and crime that tend to rise in the evenings.
In Mombasa, County Commissioner Mohamed Noor said security had been heightened across the city ahead of the holiday rush, noting an increase in both local and international visitors. He said specialised units, including officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service, had been deployed to support Tourism Police and local administrators in securing beach areas.
“At 6:00 pm, swimmers will be required to leave the beach. This is meant to prevent drownings and injuries in the ocean,” Mohamed said.
He added that hotels and private establishments had been instructed to ensure lifeguards are on duty at swimming pools to minimise accidents.
The county commissioner also cautioned parents to closely monitor their children during the school holidays, warning that some young people fall into risky or unlawful behaviour under peer pressure and online influence. He said such cases often end in arrests, leaving families distressed.
Mohamed further warned holidaymakers against online accommodation scams, saying fraudsters have been targeting unsuspecting visitors who book houses and apartments remotely, only to find no lodging on arrival. He said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations was actively pursuing such cases.
On security operations, the commissioner said police had arrested 36 suspects during an early morning crackdown in Kisauni Sub-county, following similar arrests in Likoni.
He said the operations were targeting organised criminal groups, including machete-wielding gangs, and assured residents and visitors that authorities would not tolerate harassment or violence.
“We are tightening security to ensure safety for everyone in Mombasa, not only visitors but also residents,” he said, adding that chiefs, assistant chiefs, Nyumba Kumi elders, police and community members were working together under a multi-agency framework to maintain order.
A similar directive has been issued in neighbouring Kilifi County, where public access to beaches after 6:00 pm has been suspended until the end of the year. Kilifi County Commissioner David Wanyonyi said the move was informed by safety concerns linked to tidal patterns and insecurity.
“From now until the end of the festive season, no one will be allowed on the beaches after 6:00 pm. Tidal waves become stronger and more unpredictable at night,” Wanyonyi said, warning that the conditions pose danger to beachgoers.
He added that early beach closures would also help curb crime that often thrives amid large crowds during the holiday period. At the same time, the administrator directed chiefs and their assistants to intensify crackdowns on narcotic drugs and illicit alcohol, warning that any local administrators found complicit would face disciplinary action.
Wanyonyi also called on leaders at both national and county levels to work together to address teenage pregnancies, saying he was disturbed by reports of candidates sitting national examinations in maternity wards. He urged parents to take greater responsibility in guiding their children.
“There is no reward for early pregnancies. Our children, especially girls, must be protected and supported to complete their education and secure a better future,” he said.
Authorities across the Coast have urged residents and visitors to comply with the new measures, saying the restrictions are temporary and intended to ensure a safe and peaceful festive season.
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