Facts about Lamu County

1. Lamu Old Town
Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa,
retaining its traditional functions. Built in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is
characterized by the simplicity of structural forms enriched by such features as inner
courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major
Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant centre for
the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures.
your mode of transportation in and around the island – here they use donkeys as cars
and other motorized vehicles do not exist on the island
Background
Lamu County has a population of 101,539 and an area of 6,273.1km2
. Founded in the
14th
Century, Lamu Island which is part of the County is one of the original Swahili
settlements along the coast of Eastern Africa with tourism being a major economic
activity.
Location: Located in the northern coast of Kenya. It borders the following counties;
Garissa to the North, The Indian Ocean to the South and South East, and Tana River to
the South West and West.
Area (Km 2): 6,273.1 Km 2
Climate/Weather: The average temperature is 27.3 °C and rainfall averages 950mm per
annum.
Road Network: Bitumen Surface (6 Km), Gravel Surface (161.1 Km), Earth Surface (521.5
Km)
Constituency
 Lamu east
 Lamu west
Wards

2. 1. Mkomani
2. Shella
3. Faza
4. Kiunga
5. Basuba
6. Hindi
7. Mkunumbi
8. Hongwe
9. Bahari
10. Witu
Population: 101,539 (Male – 52 %, Female – 48 %)
Population Density: 16 people per Km 2
National Percentage: 0.26 %
Annual Growth Rate: 2.47 %
Age Distribution: 0-14 years (41.7 %), 15-64 years (54.8 %), 65+ years (3.5 %)
Number of Households: 22,184
Amenities –
Boni - Dodori National Reserve, Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort, Siyu Fort, Takwa Ruins,
Swahili House, German Post Office, Lamu Old Town, Kiunga Marine National Reserve
Education
 Poverty Level: 31.6%
 Number of Institutions (2007): Primary (70), Secondary (11)
 Primary Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:57 (Public Schools)
 Secondary Teacher to Pupil Ratio: 1:35 (Public Schools)
Potential

3.  Through Vision 2030, the Government of Kenya (GOK) has expressed plans to
undertake a multipurpose transport and communication corridor known as the
‘Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor. LAPSSET will
consist of a standard gauge railway line, a port, a super highway, a regional
international airport, an ultra-modern tourist resort, an oil pipeline, and a fibre-
optic cable constructed to link Lamu to Juba and Addis Ababa.
 The anticipated development of Lamu Port has placed the county into focus by
investors prospecting business opportunities. The new Lamu Port will consist of
750 acres with 10 container terminal berths and three bulk cargo berths, an oil
jetty and an international airport.
 Other components of the project will be a three-lined, 1.4m gauge railway for
high speed trains for Lamu – Isiolo-South Sudan (1,400km), Nairobi-Isiolo-
Moyale-Addis Ababa (1,596km) and Lamu – Mombasa (350km).
 Also proposed are three oil pipeline stretching to South Sudan border via Lamu-
Isiolo (1,500km); Nairobi-Isiolo-Moyale-Addis Ababa (1,400km) a branch link to
Lamu to the current Mombasa-Kampala pipeline.
 Professionals and businessmen are swarming the ancient town to give it a major
makeover. The key industries expected to sprout here range from shipping,
logistics, banking & insurance and real estate ventures.
 Presence of the Mangrove forest presents a biodiversity edge.
 It is among the most promising areas along the Kenyan coast with hydrocarbon
potential. Gas has already been discovered in the Lamu Basin. This is the first
discovery of gas in Kenya at a depth of 2,553 meters. The exploring firm plans to
continue drilling up to a depth of 3,275 meters.
Challenges
 Has one of the highest household mean size in the country
 There are widespread evictions by ranch owners in the area
 High insecurity as a result of the Al-Shaabab terror threat.
Health
Health Facilities: 42 - District Hospitals (1), Sub-District Hospitals (2), Dispensaries (20),
Health Centres (5), Medical Clinics (13), Nursing Home (1)

4. Doctor to Population Ratio: 1:36,343
Infant Mortality Rates: 72/1000
Under Five Mortality Rates: 123/1000
Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, Respiratory Tract Infections and Skin Diseases.
Notable Hospitals: Lamu District Hospital, Faza Hospital, Mpeketoni Sub-District
Hospital
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN LAMU COUNTY
Lamu Old Town is one of Kenya’s oldest well-preserved Swahili settlements with some
dwellings dating back to the 19th
century. The architecture of many of the old buildings
in Lamu is a hybrid of Arabian, Indian and Swahili designs. The island is mainly unique
for its use of donkeys as the major mode of transport. The majority of the population is
Muslims. It was by virtue of its cultural uniqueness that Lamu was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.
Following are some of the major tourist attractions in Lamu:
1. Lamu Cultural Festival: This festival, co-ordinated by Lamu Cultural Promotion
Group, is held every year in November and promotes the preservation of Swahili
cultural heritage. Dhow, speedboat and donkey racing, Swahili poetry, traditional
dances and Swahili bridal ceremonies are some of the major attractions during
this festival. Many local and international tourists are attracted to this event.
2. Maulidi Festival: This festival is celebrated every year to mark the birth of
Prophet Mohamed. Traditional dances, henna dying competitions, dhow and
donkey racing and swimming competitions also mark this event. This is a form of
religious tourism and attracts many Muslims from all over the country
3. Stoneworks and woodworks: Lamu furniture is popular Kenyawide especially
the Lamu doors because of their unique designs and security. Many tourists to
Lamu are attracted by the various designs of Lamu doors, furniture and house
designs, beadworks and miniature dhows.

5. 4. Siyu: It is a 15th
century Islamic town. Most tourists to this town are attracted by
the Siyu Fort (built by the Omani Arabs) and ancient tombs.
5. Faza: Founded in the 13th
century, Faza is well known for its Kunjanja Mosque
and the ruins of Shala Fatani Mosque.
6. Shanga Ruins: Located in Pate Island, Shanga Ruins date to the 14th
Century and
depict remains of two mosques, a cemetery and some tombs. The name shanga
is derived from the name shanghai and the town is thought to be an old Chinese
settlement.
7. Lake Kenyatta: This lake, located in Mpeketoni, is important for scenic tours and
also is frequented by zebra, buffaloes and antelopes. However, the attraction is
not well developed.
8. Deep sea fishing and snorkeling: Tourists to Lamu can do deep sea fishing in
the ocean or do dhow safaris and evening cruises (sundowners). Snorkeling is
also done in the Kiunga Marine Park.
9. Mangrove Tours: The many mangroves in Lamu Island, Manda and as you head
towards Kipungani are a source of scenic tourism. Special-interest-tourists are
also attracted to these forests.
10. Lamu Fort: It is an ancient historic relic located at Mkunguni area that is currently
used for meetings. It is also a tourist attraction.
11. German Post Office: It is located in Mkunguni and is one of the major tourist
attractions in Lamu town.
12. Lamu Museum: Located in the heart of the town along the seafront, Lamu
Museum is a storehouse of knowledge of the cultural heritage of Lamu.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LAMU COUNTY
The county is endowed with substantial natural resources for economic development.
These include over 5500 km2
of arable land, large tracks of natural forest, rich diversity
of fauna and flora, marine resources and minerals including oil, and gas. Since the
region has remained remote and underdeveloped for decades, there is a wide space

6. available for innovation. From infrastructure to population services, our government is
able to creatively develop Lamu by having a blank template for ideas. The main
opportunities for Investment include:
1. Fisheries
Fishing contributes up to 75% of the local economy in Lamu County, amounting to an
estimate of over 250 million Kshs. Deep sea and inland fishing however remain highly
untapped and therefore revenue estimates are predicted to grow much higher upon the
increase of investors. The warm waters of the Indian ocean fosters both a large quantity
and variety of saline fish, crab, lobsters, and shrimp. Sport fishing is also highly popular
with tourists including Marlin. Sailfish, Tuna, and many more. Lamu welcomes investors
in fish processing plants among others.
2. Agriculture
Farming is a growing economy in the region, including fruits, vegetables, grain, and
other cash crops such as coconut and cashew. While the cash crop industry is blooming,
opportunities for manufacturing herbal teas and essential oils remain to be exploited
and cross-regional trade is expected to develop further with the improvement of the
Lamu-Malindi Road.
3. Livestock
Largely unknown by many investors is that Lamu is home to a large number of
pastoralists. Fresh whole milk, beef, hide, and other animal by-products are widely
available in the region. Unfortunately the market is highly untapped by investors and
most trading occurs in local markets on a small-scale. The County is therefore open to
the creation of livestock trading markets, slaughterhouses and processing plants for milk
and other related by-products.
4. Tourism
Lamu County is undeniably Kenya’s top destination as it prides itself with some of the
richest marine ecology, terrestrial wildlife, pristine beaches, and one of the oldest
cultural heritage in Kenya, dating back to the 14th century. Tourists are accommodated
over 200 hotels with a bed capacity of almost 2,000. This is however inadequate and is
too restricted to holiday resorts with very few lodges, and conference facilities.
Investment opportunities in the tourism sector are vast as the local tourism, business

7. tourism, and wildlife safari markets are yet to be fully exploited. Other opportunities that
are available are tour operations, eco-tourism, sports and adventure tourism activities,
establishment of cruise ships destinations and much more. With its 130 km of sandy
beach coastline and diverse tourist attractions, this sector has huge potential for growth,
if effective marketing is done.
5. Culture
Lamu prides itself with having a diverse social fabric consisting of numerous ethnic and
indigenous groups. Lamu Island in particular has a long history, including traders and
explorers from Portugal, India, China, Turkey and much of the Middle East whose marks
could still be felt in the area. The arts include woodcarving and furniture making, to
boatbuilding and jewellery and from calligraphy to poetry. The tangible arts renowned
in Lamu include craftsmanship such as the famous “Lamu doors”, traditional dhows,
wooden carvings, woven works, and much more art and craft resulting from the
centuries of trade that is unmatched in most of Kenya. Lamu also has a rich history of
musical arts and has borne many national artistes in Kenya. Unfortunately, Lamu County
does not have a cultural centre that celebrates and nurtures craftsmanship and arts. The
export sector for handcrafts is also highly untapped due to the lack of a large scale
manufacturing industries and exporters.
6. Transport and Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure is a fundamental prerequisite for job creation, and providing an
enabling business environment. With the anticipated development of transport
infrastructure from the Lamu Port, South-Sudan, Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, the
opportunities in Lamu are expected to grow. The project will comprise a new road
network, a railway line, an oil refinery, an oil pipeline, an international airport, a resort
city and a free port. In addition, opportunities exist in the development of smaller road
networks within the County.
7. Banking and Finance
Lamu has had an exponential growth in the opening of new banking institutions in the
County, with three new banks opening up in Lamu Island within one year alone.
Financing is expected to play a major role in Lamu as the demand for microfinance and
loan packages increase in the region. Local and international companies, individuals, and

8. organisations continually seek for competitive financing rates as the County opens up
for international and regional trade through the northern transport corridor.
8. Housing
One of the key priorities in Lamu is providing affordable housing. With the identification
of new County headquarters in Mokowe, an underdeveloped town, and coming of the
Lamu port, there is an expected increase in population, and thereby increasing demand
for real estate and rental property.
9. Energy and Mining
Being a largely underdeveloped region but with a rapidly increasing population, this
leaves a highly open space for investors interested in provision of electricity. Since Lamu
has largely been dependant on generator-powered electricity, investors are invited to
provide green and sustainable energy solutions for the County. Furthermore, oil and gas
explorations in the region provide a great potential for investors in the energy sector.
Minerals that can be found in Lamu include Titanium, salt, and limestone, in addition to
construction materials such as coral stones, cement rocks, and sand.
10.Social Services
According to our manifesto, education, health, and safe access to drinking water are of
the highest priority. Having a largely underutilized youth work-force, the prioritization of
education will allow for a growth in man-power, thereby increasing productivity and
efficiency in the region. There is a rapidly increasing population resulting from LAPSSET
requiring essential social services yet the region lacks adequate number of health and
education institutions. There is currently no University in Lamu. With the vaste idle land
that we have, universities are welcome to develop as well as private hospitals, clinics,
and pharmacies to cater for the international travelers frequenting the region.