The coastal city of Mombasa is one of the most preferred holiday destinations in the region but the United Nations has threatened to delist it as a protected island due to massive sea reclamation in the area.
According to the UN, Mombasa is slowly turning into a peninsula thus altering its geographical status.
National Land Commission (NLC) Chairman Muhammad Swazuri on Thursday echoed the same sentiments, lamenting how Mombasa was slowly losing its historical status as an island.
[caption caption="National Land Commission (NLC) Chairman Muhammad Swazuri "]
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Swazuri called for the preservation of the region as reclamation of land from the ocean was affecting the natural flow of water.
“The UN conducts an audit of islands annually. It has threatened to delist Mombasa.
“We cannot allow the reclaiming of land here because of the historical importance and ecological status of this area.
"I have directed the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) to stop it immediately,” stated Swazuri.
The NLC chairman further revealed that land reclamation in the area was illegal and he had stopped the reclamation of two acres by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) at Fort Jesus.
The delisting of Mombasa as an island may heavily affect tourism but Governor Hassan Joho recently approved the construction of a seawall to protect Fort Jesus from the rising tides that were eroding it.
“We approved the construction of a seawall, but we will not allow land reclamation in that area.
“The wanton reclamation of land from the ocean at Kibarani is something I will not allow to continue,” stated the governor.
[caption caption="Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho"]
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