Safety First: Mombasa suspends beach and marine activities over wind alert
Following the meeting, all public beaches in Mombasa County shall remain closed for 2 days, effective immediately.
In a swift response to a looming coastal threat, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir has closed all public beaches and frozen marine and construction work following a weather alert on strong winds and high waves.
The directive follows a warning by the Kenya Meteorological Department, which projected wind speeds of up to 25 knots and wave heights of up to 2.5 meters between May 23 and 25, posing serious risks to public safety and infrastructure.
"All public beaches in Mombasa County shall remain closed for two days, effective immediately," Nassir ordered.
The governor on Friday chaired an emergency meeting of the County Disaster Preparedness Committee, which brought together officials from the Interior Ministry, police, Kenya Maritime Authority, Coast Guard, Red Cross, and disaster agencies.
At the same time, the Governor also suspended all ocean-based activities, including fishing and water sports, until further notice.
"All beach-related activities are strictly prohibited during this period," he stated.
Ongoing construction activities across the county have also been halted.
The ODM Governor also announced that contractors have been instructed to secure their sites to prevent accidents from wind-related hazards.
"We are acting out of caution. Let us remain alert and prioritize safety at all times," Nassir added.
The county will issue daily updates to keep residents informed about any changes.
In addition, Nassir urged full compliance with the directives, adding that the county is working closely with emergency and maritime agencies to monitor the situation and protect lives and property.
"We cannot risk lives. All marine and ocean-related commercial or recreational activities are suspended," he said.
The precautions come after the Met Department on Thursday issued a warning for strong winds and large ocean waves expected to hit several parts of the country over the next three days.
Residents living along the Coast, in the south-eastern lowlands, and in north-western Kenya were warned to prepare for gusts of wind that could cause damage to property and disrupt daily activities.
The alert covers counties including Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale.
Starting Friday, May 23, strong southerly winds of more than 30 knots (15.4 meters per second) are expected, with wind speeds increasing to over 35 knots (18.0 meters per second) on Saturday and Sunday.
The winds are forecast to ease back to 25 knots (12.9 meters per second) by Monday, May 26.
