Kwale County is located in south coast of Kenya, it borders the Republic of Tanzania to the South West, and the following Counties; Taita Taveta to the West, Kilifi to the North, Mombasa to the North East.
The Indian Ocean lies to the East. Kwale County covers a total surface area of 8,270.2 square km and accounts for 1.42 per cent of Kenya’s total surface area.
Kwale Headquarters and Major Towns
The County’s capital is Kwale Town which is located 30 km southwest of Mombasa and 15km inland. It borders the Shimba Hills National Reserve. Other major towns include:
- Ukunda,
- Msambweni,
- Kinango, and
- Lunga Lunga.
Geography and Climate
Kwale County has four major topographical features namely the coastal plain, the foot plateau, the coastal uplands and the Nyika plateau.
Kwale County has a monsoon type of climate; it’s hot and dry from January – April while June to August is the coolest period of the year. Rainfall comes in two seasons i.e. short rains are experienced from October to December while the long rains run from March- June/July.
The average temperature of the county is 24.2oC and rainfall amounts range between 400mm and 1,680 mm per annum. Seasonal rivers and the Ramisi River form the drainage pattern in the district.
The main rivers and streams are Marere, Mwaluganje and river Ramisi. Rivers Marere and Mwaluganje have been harnessed to provide piped water.
The People of Kwale County
Based on the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census, the county had a population of 649,931 which accounted for 1.7 per cent of the total Kenyan population.
Kwale County is populated mainly by the Digo and Duruma. These people belong to the Mijikenda ethnic group of coastal Kenya. Other tribes found in the district include the Kambas, Arabs and Indians though to a very small proportion compared to the Digos and Durumas.
Administrative Units
Kwale County has 3 administrative districts, namely:
- Kinango
- Matuga
- Msambweni.
Electoral Units
The County is divided into 4 constituencies and 20 wards. The constituencies are:
- Matuga
- Msambweni
- Kinango
- Lunga Lunga