Mombasa residents are calling for the deployment of lifeguards at all public beaches following the drowning of a 13-year-old boy at Madhubaha Beach in Old Town, an incident that has renewed concerns over recurring fatalities along the county’s coastline.
The boy, identified as Haitham Salim Brek, reportedly drowned while trying to rescue a fellow swimmer, according to residents and members of the Kenya Open Group.
In response, residents staged a peaceful protest and presented a petition to Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.
The petition argues that the tragedy highlights a long-standing failure to provide basic safety measures at beaches frequently used by residents and visitors.
Community members also pointed to another fatal drowning at the same beach involving Jaffar Mohammed Famau, the son of a local elder, saying the repeated incidents reflect a worrying trend that has not been adequately addressed.
Residents say many of these deaths could be prevented if trained lifeguards, rescue divers and emergency response equipment were available at public beaches.
They are now urging the county government to deploy lifesaving teams across all public beaches and provide rescue boats and other emergency infrastructure.
“We can no longer continue losing our children and loved ones due to preventable drowning incidents,” said Alamin Somo, calling for urgent intervention by the county government.
The residents are also pushing for a structured beach safety programme operating daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., which they say are the busiest swimming hours.
They further want swimming after 6 p.m. prohibited, citing poor visibility and a higher risk of drowning.
In addition, they are calling for stronger collaboration between county authorities and maritime agencies, including the Kenya Maritime Authority and the Kenya Coast Guard Service, to improve water safety training for children and young people and support sustained public awareness campaigns on beach safety.
Tensions emerged when residents attempted to deliver the petition at county offices and were reportedly informed that the governor was attending a meeting.
“It is so unfortunate that we have come to present our petition to a leader who is supposed to be governing Mombasa County, but we are told he is in an important meeting,” said Walid Sketty.
He added, “We are asking, what meeting can be more important than human life? Enough is enough. We are tired. People are dying in the sea repeatedly. How do we expect this to be a tourist destination when lives are being lost like this?”
Sketty said the community had reached its limit over the recurring tragedies.
Residents insist that unless urgent action is taken, more lives will continue to be lost along the coastline despite ongoing investments aimed at promoting tourism and coastal development.
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