Sea turtles are among the oldest reptile species in the world, having been in existence for over 100 million years. Globally there are seven species of turtles in the ocean waters, the loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta), green turtle (chelonia mydas), leatherback turtle (dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (eretmochelys imbricata), kemp’s ridley (lepidochelys kempii), Olive ridley (lepidochelys olivacea), and the flatback turtle (natator depressa). Five of these species green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley are found in the Kenyan and East African waters.

 

These beautiful marine creatures play an important role in marine ecosystem balance, and are also a key tourist attraction at the Kenyan coast. However in the recent past, their survival has been listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature - IUCN.

 

A sea turtle at Msambweni beach / Photo: MTMCG.

In Msambweni area Kwale County, locals have shown significant efforts to conserve sea turtles. Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group MTMCG, a community based organization active since 2004, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness on the importance of marine environment conservation. According to Hussein Mwabori, Msambweni Turtle and Marine Conservation Group monitors turtle movements in the beaches stretching from Mwandamu to Munje villages, where members identify turtle nests and trans-locate them. Usually turtle nesting at the beaches of Msambweni takes place between the month of April and September each year, and turtle eggs take 60 or slightly more days to hatch depending on temperature ranges of the given nesting season.

Population decline:

It is estimated that the turtle population in the world has declined by 80% over the past 50 years.

Several factors have contributed to the decline of marine turtle population, including human activities such as coastal developments, poaching, pollution and also effects of climate change.

Hussein Mwabori (L) trans-locating a turtle nest. /MTMCG

Coastal developments cause land loss, a major factor forcing turtles to either waste their eggs in the sea or lay them in inappropriate locations, hence reducing their chances of survival.

Also research shows that for every 1,000 sea turtles hatched, only one reaches maturity age which is 25 years.

Even though sea turtles face extinction and are placed among the endangered species in need of special protection, they remain a major tourist attraction at the Kenyan coast.

Situated at the southeastern part of Kenya in Kwale County, Wasini Island is the only place in Kenya which is home to the largest land-living arthropod in the world, the coconut crab (birgus iatro), a species of terrestrial hermit crab.

These amazing land-dwelling creatures are found in Bogoa area and the Mpunguti Marine Reserve, and here the local inhabitants from the Kifundi community call them mabopo.

A section of Wasini Island. / Photo Susan Nyamawi.

At Mkwiro village in Wasini Island, a community based organization called the Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group is conserving these endangered creatures. In Bogoa area, the giant coconut crabs mainly feed on coconuts as their name suggests, and also feed on different kinds of fruits found at the Mpunguti Marine Reserve area. However, according to Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group, during dry seasons, coconut crabs reach the village in search for food, and sometimes they can easily make away with food from peoples’ houses if not properly stored.

But when they get to the village, coconut crabs face the dangers of being killed by people, though the local conservation group is in the forefront to sensitize the Mkwiro community on the importance of conserving these rare creatures. Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group collaborates with the local Beach Management Unit members, and the Kenya Wildlife Services in its conservation endeavors.

On average, an adult coconut crab weighs up to four (4) kilograms, and measures up to three (3) feet long when their legs are extended. During the day, coconut crabs hide in burrows and crevices, or climb trees to avoid their predators. Even though these creatures are terrestrial, female coconut crabs release their eggs at the sea shore where they are hatched in the ocean and later juvenile coconut crabs return to the dry land in gastropod shells. Their lifespan is believed to be around 60 years.

If visiting Wasini Island, be ware not to fall on the way of these creatures unknowingly because they use their powerful claws for self-defense. Researchers indicate that a pinch of a mature coconut crab can exert a force equaling 742 pounds.

Outside the Mpunguti Marine Reserve area, coconut crabs are only found in Chumbe Island, in the Zanzibar archipelago in the East African region, and in the Island of Madagascar.

Though listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered or vulnerable spices, lack of relevant data make it hard to know the exact number of coconut crabs. In areas where they are found, the population of these creature which is a distinct tourists attraction is believed to decline due to habitat loss caused by human development projects.

The Shirazi community also known as the Kifundi, is one of the minority groups in Kenya, occupying the southern most coastal villages of Munje, Shirazi, Funzi, Bodo, Shimoni and Mkwiro. Being a coastal community a large number of its inhabitants rely on fishing as their main source of income though some practice arable farming. Even though most Kenyans are not aware of the existence of the Shirazi community due to marginalization, the locals still enjoy rich cultural values and history dating back to centuries.

In order to discover much about this community, The Kwale Focus visited Munje, Funzi and Mkwiro villages. The hospitality received, the simplicity of life in these villages and the unity of members of this community is phenomenal. In short the Shirazi is an organized community.

Jiwe Jahazi near Mpunguti islands of Wasini.

Several community elders narrated the history of their origin to The Kwale Focus. According to them, their ancestors came from Shiraz a place in the gulf region, centuries back. They built several mosques at Tumbe, Munje, and Shirazi villages. To date these ancient mosques are still found in these areas though some are no longer used but remain as historical ruins.

The Shirazi community was ruled by kings. One of their famous kings known as Tumbe who was blessed with a daughter known as Mwauzi Tumbe. After the death of her father, Mwauzi Tumbe took over the leadership of the community for several years until she got married to a man from the Vumba tribe, a neighboring community which inhabits Kisiwani village on the western most part of Wasini island.

It is said that the Vumba people were not happy with the Shirazi kingdom, and for years they had planned to overthrow it. They severally tried to attack them but their efforts were futile. And after realizing that all their means had failed, they resolved to make peace with the Shirazi and finally one of their own got married to Mwauzi Tumbe, without the Shirazi knowing that they were just cunning.

After years of peaceful stay, the Vumba people learnt all the secrets about the Shirazi kingdom. Mwauzi Tumbe’s husband explained to her all their plans to topple their kingdom and took advantage of her old age to deceive her. She agreed to him but pleaded to be left in her own village. The Vumbas came up with several plans one of which they asked Mwauzi Tumbe to shout out ‘war’! every evening, and she did so for several days. But when her guards came to rescue there was no war or danger at all. This continued for a while until became fade up with her and started ignoring her in some occassion thinking that she was under the influence of old age.

However one day the Vumba people staged an attacked and drove off with all the valuables of the Shirazi kingdom. They also took Mwauzi Tumbe and decided to leave her in an isolated island which is today know as Mpunguti where she later succumbed to death due to lack of food and water.

Kisiwani area in the larger Wasini Island.

The Vumbas lived happily for years after killing Mwauzi Tumbe but later problems started to haunt them. It is believed that the Shirazi ancestors were angered by their actions hence cursing them. They later started suffering, harsh drought, diseases among other hardships followed them. As a result the Vumbas decided to seek intervention of a medicine man who narrated to them the cause of all the problems. The wise medicine man asked the two communities to reconcile an make amends to honour the late Mwauzi Tumbe who was killed in a disrespectful way. Some members rowed to Mpunguti island and took the remains of Mwauzi Tumbe and burried them in Bogoa area in the present day Mkwiro village.

Shortly after that the problems stopped. Today the graveyard where Mwauzi Tumbe’s remains were buried is still guarded by some of the Shirazi community members who use it as a holy shrine where they perform rituals at times of difficulties.

Today if you visit Bogoa area in Mkwiro village, you will find a coral stone at the the place where it is believed that Mwauzi Tumbe's remains were buried.

Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Health Francis Gwama Mwatsahu has assured Kwale County residents of getting better and quality healthcare services.

In a statement after meeting various health sector stakeholders at Hill Park Hotel in Tiwi, Gwama said that the County Government of Kwale will partner with all the stakeholders to ensure that available resources are well utilized.

He pointed out that the main objective of meeting the stakeholders was to know their areas of operation and the healthcare services they offer to ensure that every Kwale resident benefits.

At the same time he challenged the partners to embrace research, saying that it is only through research that they can learn new developments and present relevant data. 

He also reminded the partners that their programs and strategic plans should be linked to the County’s health strategic plan.

"All the partners should share their work plan to avoid repeat or overlapping of the projects. This will help us meet our objectives of serving the people well,” Mr Gwama said.

The County Executive Committee Member refuted the claims that he is not in good terms with the Chief Officer for Health Dr. Kishindo Mwaleso and asked Kwale residents to ignore such misleading information.

Kwale County Chief Officer for Health Dr. Mwaleso.

“When I joined the County Government, Dr. Mwaleso accorded me a warm welcome to my office, and we always consult one another in everything we do,” he clarified.

He also challenged the media to seek clarification from his office on issues concerning the department instead of publishing it on social media platforms.

“I am media friendly and I like transparency. So the media is always welcome to my office to seek any clarification," he added.

Among the partners represented in the meeting were Red Cross, AMREF, ADS Pwani, Scope, Base Titanium, CISP, 4 Kenya Trust, WOFAK, Kenya Trust and Nagasaki among others.

(By Ali Kipapuro & Neema Mwachome)