Visitors to Mombasa’s famous beaches will now have to pack up earlier than usual after the county government announced that all beaches will close at 6pm throughout the festive season.
The directive, announced on Wednesday, December 10, is part of new safety measures aimed at preventing drowning incidents and ensuring a secure environment as thousands of local and international tourists flock to the coast for the holidays.
Mombasa County Police Commander Peter Kimani, speaking during an interview with NTV, said officers will blow whistles at 6pm daily to signal the end of beach activities. Once the whistle sounds, everyone will be required to vacate the water and leave the beachfront.
“When it reaches 6pm, our officers shall be blowing whistles so that people may get out of the water so that they may not be affected by high tide, and also prevent drowning,” Kimani explained, noting that high tides in the evenings have contributed to several tragic incidents in past holiday seasons.
Enhanced Patrols and New Management Committees
Kimani added that security teams, working alongside the Kenya Navy, will conduct constant patrols using boats to monitor the waters and ensure beachgoers remain safe.
But the plan goes beyond the ocean. To deal with common complaints about harassment by beach boys and aggressive hawkers, the county has formed new beach management committees. These committees composed of officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service, General Police, Tourist Police, and Coast Guard will oversee order and safety at all major beaches.
“We know that many tourists will flood beaches during the festive season, so we have formed beach management committees,” Kimani said.
“These committees will ensure that all people who are enjoying themselves on the beaches are not bothered by beach boys and hawkers.”
For regular beach visitors, the changes may feel unusual, but the county insists they are necessary to maintain Mombasa’s image as a safe and welcoming destination.
Governor Issues Further Safety Directives
The beach closure directive came just hours after Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir issued a separate order requiring all event organisers and venue owners to seek clearance from the disaster management committee before hosting any event during the festive season.
Nassir emphasized that the rule applies to all public gatherings free or ticketed, indoors or outdoors saying it is part of a wider effort to reinforce emergency preparedness.
“The Constitution of Kenya assigns county governments functions relating to cultural activities, public entertainment, public amenities, and disaster management,” the governor said.
With the holiday season now in full swing, Mombasa officials hope the stricter rules will minimize incidents and allow thousands of revelers to enjoy a safe, vibrant coastal Christmas and New Year.
