Mombasa County moves street families from tourist zones in new tourism drive

Mombasa County’s Trade, Tourism and Culture CEC Mohamed Osman. (Photo: Handout)

By Farhiya Hussein
Sunday, March 29, 2026

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Mombasa County is relocating street families from key tourist areas to rehabilitation centres and has created a new tourism inspectorate unit to enhance safety, cleanliness and visitor experience.

Mombasa County has launched a renewed effort to strengthen its position as a leading coastal destination, introducing a programme to remove street families from key tourist areas while reinforcing security to improve the visitor experience.

The initiative, implemented through the Mombasa Tourism Council, is a joint undertaking between the county and the national government.

It centres on relocating affected individuals from high-traffic tourist zones to rehabilitation centres, in what officials describe as a balanced approach that addresses both urban order and social welfare.

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According to the county, individuals removed from public spaces are being enrolled in rehabilitation programmes designed to support their reintegration into society.

Officials expect the intervention to ease congestion in busy urban areas, improve cleanliness, and create a more welcoming environment for both domestic and international tourists.

At the same time, the county has established a specialised tourism inspectorate unit to strengthen safety within visitor zones.

The unit, described as the first of its kind at the county level in Kenya, will work alongside national security agencies to monitor activity in tourism hotspots and respond quickly to emerging threats.

Mohamed reiterated that security remains central to the county’s tourism strategy, assuring visitors that measures are in place to safeguard their safety.

Authorities believe that combining social support programmes with targeted security reforms will enhance Mombasa’s competitiveness and help reposition the coastal city as a leading destination on the global tourism map.