Malindi

Malindi
Municipality

Sunset with boats in Malindi
Malindi

Location in Kenya

Coordinates: 3°13′25″S 40°7′48″E / 3.22361°S 40.13000°ECoordinates: 3°13′25″S 40°7′48″E / 3.22361°S 40.13000°E
Country  Kenya
County Kilifi County
Population (2009)
 • Total 207,253 [1]
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
A view of the old town of Malindi

Malindi (once known as Melinde) is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi was 207,253 as of the 2009 census.[1] It is the largest urban centre in Kilifi County.

Overview

Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is exceptionally popular among Italian tourists. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu. The nearby Watamu resort and Gedi Ruins (also known as Gede) are south of Malindi. The mouth of the Sabaki River lies in northern Malindi. The Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks form a continuous protected coastal area south of Malindi. The area shows classic examples of Swahili architecture. The majority of Malindi's population is Muslim.[2]

Malindi is home to the Malindi Airport and Broglio Space Centre.

History

Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Once rivaled only by Mombasa for dominance in this part of East Africa, Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the town was visited by the fleet of the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Malindi's ruler sent a personal envoy with a giraffe as a present to China on that fleet.

The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a coral pillar. The pillar stands to this day, though there have been calls by conservationists to take care of it, since soil erosion might make the pillar fall into the ocean. It is a fairly popular tourist attraction for both local and international tourists. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi that served as a resting stop on the way to and from India. A church dates from this era.

Many traditional buildings survive, including the Juma Mosque and palace on the beach, a stretch popular with tourists.

Local governance

Malindi now falls under Kilifi County as per the administrative changes in the new constitution passed in August 2010. Malindi forms a municipal council with the following thirteen wards: Barani, Ganda/Mkaumoto, Gede, Gede North, Gede South, Kijiwetanga, Madunguni, Malimo, Malindi Central, Malindi North, Maweni, Shella, Watamu Town. All of them are located within Malindi Constituency.[3]

The mayor of Malindi is Mohamed Menza.[4]

Image gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.opendata.go.ke/Population/2009-Census-Vol-1-Table-3-Rural-and-Urban-Populati/e7c7-w67t/1
  2. ↑ Oded, Arye (2000). Islam and Politics in Kenya. Lynne Rienner Publishers, p. 11
  3. ↑ Polling Centres in Kenya. Electoral Commission of Kenya.
  4. ↑ Rivals trade accusations at hearing. Daily Nation, June 22, 2008.

External links

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