African cities are urbanizing at a rapid rate: Their populations are on track to double by 2050. Most profiles for the continent focus on domestic dynamics, but how will governance and industry shape Africa’s most important urban centers in the coming decades?
Photo: An aerial view of Mombasa city skyline from the old town (Leo Hempstone/ Wiki Commons)
City overview
Founded/ established: C. 900 A.D.
Current population (2022, metro area): 1.4 million
Projected population (2050): 4.3 million (+307%)
Municipal leadership: Governor H.E. Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir (2022–present)
Demographics (national): Bantu/ Nilotic (92%), Other groups: Asian/ European/ other
Official languages: Swahili, English
Welcome to Mombasa
Kenya’s port city of Mombasa boasts more than just access to water and major international shipping routes. With a population of 1.4 million in the metro area and over a thousand years of documented history, it's a major hub not just in Kenya but in the greater east Africa region.
With a growth rate of 3.6% in 2022, the city's population is set to expand rapidly in the coming years. And with a general push for “devolution” to cede power from national to regional authorities in Kenya, Mombasa – and the decisions made by local officials – will be key to the country’s future.
An African city with a thousand years of history
As Kenya’s oldest city, Mombasa traces its roots back to around 900 A.D., founded as a small trading settlement by Arab and Persian merchants. It's mentioned by name in print for the first time by Arab geographer al-Idrisi in 1154. The city grew into a prosperous port and became an important center of trade between the African interior and the Indian Ocean world.
With the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500s after Vasco de Gama’s expedition, there are descriptions of locals in Mombasa wearing gold and living in multi-story buildings. By that point, the city’s Mandhry Mosque was already some 200 years old. The area soon fell under Portuguese control, and it was they who established a fortress on the island. Later, the city was ruled by the Omanis, who established a sultanate and expanded the city's infrastructure.
Photo: Street in the old town of Mombasa, Kenya, featuring Mandhry Mosque (Maclemo/ Wiki Commons)
In the late 19th century, Mombasa became part of British East Africa, and Kenya gained independence in 1963. Today, Mombasa is a bustling city with a diverse population and continues to be an important center of trade and tourism.
Government and municipal structure
Kenya has eight provinces subdivided into 47 counties and 290 parliamentary constituencies nationally. Constituencies are delineated based on population, and each constituency returns one member of Parliament (MP).
Mombasa is located in Coast Province and is the only city in its county of Mombasa. The county is further divided into six sub-counties, and each sub-county is divided into wards (number of wards in each country listed here in parentheses):
Mvita (5)
Jomvu (3)
Changamwe (5)
Kisauni (7)
Nyali (5)
Likoni (5)
Ward representatives are elected from each of the 30 wards and form the municipal council known as the Mombasa County Assembly.
The city of Mombasa does not feature a mayor but rather a governor, currently H.E. Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir (2022–present). According to his public biography, the “backbone of [his] agenda is to bring a new way of doing things in Mombasa through public participation,” and he is keen to create a “people-centered government.”
Major industries
The city's economy is driven by several industries, including tourism, transportation, and manufacturing.
Tourism is a significant contributor to the economy, with attractions such as beaches, national parks, and historic sites drawing in visitors from all over the world. The city's port is the largest in East Africa and serves as a crucial gateway for trade and transportation, making the transportation industry a vital part of the local economy. The manufacturing sector in Mombasa is also growing, with the city's proximity to raw materials and access to a large workforce making it an attractive location for investors.
Looking ahead to 2030, Mombasa is expected to experience significant growth in the technology and renewable energy sectors, including a deal with the European Investment Bank in early 2023 to develop green hydrogen projects. In 2022, renewables accounted for 87% of Kenya’s energy.
As well, the Kenyan government has been investing heavily in technology infrastructure, and Mombasa is poised to benefit from these investments. The city's location on the coast makes it an ideal location for renewable energy projects, and the port is exploring a switch to solar energy. This aligns with the government’s ambitious targets: It aims for 100% clean energy by 2030, and appears to be well on its way to achieving it.
The port of Mombasa
As mentioned above, the port of Mombasa is a vital component of both the city's economy and that of Kenya as a whole. As the largest and busiest seaport in East Africa, it handles a significant volume of imports and exports, including oil, agricultural products, and manufactured goods.
Photo: The Kilindini harbor was inaugurated in 1896 when work started on the construction of the Uganda Railway. (Erasmus Kamugisha/ Wiki Commons)
The port generates significant revenue for the Kenyan government and provides numerous employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly. Additionally, it serves as a gateway for landlocked countries in East and Central Africa, facilitating trade and economic activity throughout the region. Landlocked Uganda has been one of the port’s largest customers in recent years (for both imports and exports), accounting for nearly a quarter of its business in 2018.
In recent years, China has become the largest source of imports (approximately 20% in 2022), with the United States accounting for less than 6%.
Local policies and projects
In 2021–2022, the Mombasa city budget delegated 25% to the department of health to improve health services in the wake of Covid-19 and aims for “sustainable, shared and equitable growth.” The previous administration aimed to make fiscal discipline a pillar of government as well as improve the quality of services to residents. To this end, it currently offers some of its services through an online portal.
Several notable high profile city infrastructure projects include:
Affordable housing: As of 2023, the city was planning to build thousands of new units of affordable housing in a Sh 19 billion (USD 144 million) project, with the first phase including 6,800 one to three bedroom homes.
Nairobi-Mombasa expressway: The project, which has been in development for years, was awarded to a South Korean construction firm in late 2022. It’s estimated the project will cost USD 3 billion and take three years to complete, but once finished, it is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by nearly half: from eight hours to five.
Mombasa Gate Bridge: Another long-in-development project, the Mombasa Gate Bridge will connect Mombasa Island (where the Old City is located) to the South Coast and replace ferry service that has been the default connection since the late 1930s. At a cost of Ksh 85 billion (USD 65 million), the bridge is expected to reduce congestion on the island and provide better connectivity within the city.
Final note
While often overlooked, Mombasa is a vibrant and fast-growing city. Its coastal location has been a critical factor in its development for over a thousand years, and the city has remained a key hub in east Africa. Nationally, Kenya is well on its way to its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030, and if completed well, the major infrastructure projects currently underway in Mombasa will position it well for its growth in the coming decades.
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