Redcross Officers carry to the shore the body of a fisherman who drowned in the sea. Photo Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti
The Kilifi County Government has raised alarm over a worrying spike in beach drowning incidents, with 21 lives lost in the past year. In response, the county is stepping up efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and enhance safety along its 260-kilometre coastline.
According to Irene Nekesa Opicho, the County Chief Officer for Disaster Management, most of the victims were students on school trips, while others were local fishermen. She revealed that more than 140 lifeguards have already been trained and deployed at Mtwapa, Kilifi, Watamu, Mayungu, Malindi, and Ngomeni Beach Management Units (BMUs), with more personnel set for training.
Opicho was speaking on Sunday during the World Drowning Prevention Day commemoration at Vidazini Beach in Kilifi Town, an event also attended by Deputy Governor Flora Chibule. The day saw key stakeholders, including the Kenya Red Cross, conduct awareness campaigns aimed at equipping the public with life-saving skills as first responders in drowning incidents.
Other partners, including Captain Andy and Stella Maris, staged rescue drills targeting holidaymakers during the school holidays. Opicho urged the public—especially fishermen—to exercise caution at sea, citing rising cases of boats getting stranded or lost.
The county government also plans to construct watchtowers along the coastline, from Mtwapa to Marereni, to aid in emergency response. Currently, Kilifi has only three fully equipped patrol boats, which Opicho says are insufficient, calling on well-wishers to help boost the fleet.
Samwel Munyuho, Director of Stella Maris Kenya, disclosed that over 700 marine users in Mombasa have been trained, with similar programs planned for Kilifi.
Deputy Governor Chibule lauded the county’s growing appeal as a tourist hotspot and urged visitors to inform the Disaster Management Department of their travel plans to enhance safety.
