In 2014 the County Government of Kwale under the leadership of Governor Salim Mvurya and his Deputy Fatuma Achani initiated the County Integrated Food Security Program aimed at changing peoples lives and making Kwale County food secure.

Through this program the County Government bought two tractors for each ward and also started distributing hybrid cows, goats and seeds to farmers. 

In Mwereni ward Lunga Lunga Sub-County Robert Joho Kaziyahindi is one of the beneficiaries who received a hybrid bull from the county government in 2014. 

Kaziyahindi recounts how this program has changed his life. “I used the bull to crossbreed my local breed cattle,” he says.

Joho Kaziyahindi points at some of his crossbreed cows. Photo: Ali Kipapuro

Today, he sells over 40 litres of milk per day compared to around 10 to 20 litres he used to sell before.

“I sell my milk to local markets and use the profit I make to cater for my basic needs,” he further explains.

Kaziyahindi who now owns over 200 heads of hybrid cattle also expects to sell over 70 bulls by the end of this year, whereby the market price of a bull is between 70,000 and 100,000 Kenyan shillings.

Before, he used to sell the local breed bulls at around 30,000 shillings.

Kaziyahindi's bulls fighting. Photo: Ali Kipapuro

“Through the County Integrated Food Security Program, Governor Salim Mvurya and his Deputy Fatuma Achani have helped many farmers in Kwale County. Some of us got hybrid cattle, other received seedlings while fishermen benefited from boats and fishing gears,” Kaziyahindi happily explains.

Kaziyahindi has used his livestock project to build a rental house in Likoni Mombasa County, which earns him a remarkable sum each month. He has also paid secondary school fees for his three children.

“Currently I am putting up a residential house in Mwereni at an expected cost of two million Kenyan shillings, a project which is also funded by this project,” he says.

Though Kaziyahindi and other farmers in Mwereni ward face similar challenges such as water scarcity, he hopes that those challenges will be solved once and for all.

Source: Catherine Nyokabi

It is estimated that Kenya earns around 2.5 billion dollars annually from its ocean resources, a positive indication that there can be a potential growth of the country’s GDP through the embrace of Blue Economy.

At Kibuyuni village in Kwale County, a group of around 50 members is already making fortunes from seaweed farming, a project that has improved the livelihoods of many families in the area.

According to Fatuma Mohamed the chairperson of Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers Group, this project started back in 2010 after a research done by Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI) between 2001 and 2002 on the decline of artisanal fish catches.

Fatuma says that the research results showed that a certain species of seaweed spinosium (Eucheuma Denticalatam) that could be grown at the area. 

Fatuma Mohamed second right and other members of Kibuyuni Seaweed Famers Group. / Photo: Ali Kipapuro

In 2011 Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers who by then were 27 in number got funding from PACT-Kenya an Non Governmental Organization to enhance their project.  Each member had a six block farm with a capacity of 300 seaweed planting ropes. Today Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers grow two species of seaweed which are the spinosium (Eucheuma Denticalatam) and Cottonii (Kappaphycus Alvarezii). The production cycle of these seaweed species is between 30-45 days here in Kibuyuni. 

In 2014 the seaweed farming project expanded to 50 farmers through another funding from Kenya Coastal Development Programme (KCDP). In 2015 the farmers harvested 41.5 tonnes of seaweed making 1,277,490 Kenyan shillings after selling their harvest to a seaweed dealer from Belgium.  

Though seaweed has been identified as a good prospect for social and economical development in the area, Fatuma explains that after harvesting farmers dry the product though not through direct sunlight. In 2016, Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers got funding from Food and Agriculture Organization FAO which constructed a drying shed for them. She also says that FAO trained them on value addition and today they used the seaweed they grow to make soaps, lotions, cookies, cakes, shampoos, juices and jam which they sell to local markets. 

Kibuyuni seaweed drying shed funded by FAO. / Photo: Neema Mwachome

In the 2016/17 financial year,  the County Government of Kwale through the department of Trade and Cooperative Development constructed a Seaweed Collection Center here in Kibuyuni, a project which has benefited the seaweed farmers who are now storing their product in a safe place. Through this project the County Government of Kwale is encouraging the growth of the county’s economy through the Blue Economy initiative. Before this project, the farmers incurred losses as they used to store the seaweed they harvested in their houses. During rain seasons the product lost its value due to poor conditions of some of their houses.

Fatuma says that from their earning Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers invested in table banking and merry go round initiatives. 

VALUE ADDITION:

When processing their products, the Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers Group members have to pass the seaweed through various stages in their Collection Center. First the seaweed is put inside a Hot Air Electric Drier several times until its completely dry. After this stage, the seaweed is then take to a Pulverizing Machine which chops it into sizable portions which are collected in specific buckets to the next stage. 

Some of the machines used to process seaweed products by Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers Group. / Photo Ali Kipapuro

From the Pulverizing Machine, the seaweed chops are the take to the third stage which is the Pelletizing Machine which make the seaweed into pellets which are in turn collected and take to Disk Milling Machine which grinds them. The seaweed powder is then taken to a Siftering Machine which sifts the finest powder to be taken to the next processing stage.

After siftering, the seaweed powder is ready for making soaps and shampoos. Here it is fed into a Portable Stirrer where it is mixed with the required amount of coloring, oil, and fragrance at a set temperature. The jelly is then collected in specific buckets a kept to cool. Later this collection is put into the last machine known as the Soap Plodder which performs a process known as the soap extrusion process. 

Bar soaps made from seaweed. / Photo: Ali Kipapuro.

BENEFITS:

According to Fatuma Mohammed who is the chairperson of Kibuyuni Seaweed Farmers, seaweed also has medicinal values. She says that many tooth pastes are made using seaweed. She says that the use seaweed soaps cures rashes, skin ulcers and ring worms that are caused by fungi. She also says that consumption of seaweed as food boosts the immunity system, and according to her it is good for people living with HIV.

Born and raised in Dokata village of MacKinnon Road ward, 52 years old Mwajoto Mwagawari is today a happy man thanks to the water project opened by the County Government of Kwale in their area back in 2017. To him this project is a relief to hundreds of Dokata residents who for years had to walk long distances in search of water. Mwajoto narrates how Dokata mothers used to trek to as far as eight kilometers to fetch water at Mgalani and sometimes at MacKinnon Road areas. Dokata boarders Tsavo East National Park and here wild animals such as elephants, lions and buffaloes frequently cross to the village, which makes this area dangerous at times.

Mwajoto Mwagawari explaining about the water project.

“Our mothers spent much of their time fetching water. They used to wake up as early as 5 o’clock in the morning and they could return home at around 9 o'clock exhausted, and still had other cores to do after returning.” He explains.

According to him, some women walked these tiresome distances carrying their babies on their backs. Apart from that dawn task, some Dokata mothers used to return to Mgalani in the afternoon depending on water consumption needs by their family members.

At Mgalani area, people got water from the Kenya Railway taps that were later closed forcing Dokata residents to move to MacKinnon Road. However since the inception of the Melikubwa-Dokata water project by the County Government of Kwale, Dokata villagers are now getting relief as many get water from a comfortably near walking distance as compared to the past. 

Girls at the Dokata water Kiosk.

And to elderly Mama Dzame Rumba, the county water project is such a relief to Dokata villagers. Mama Dzame says that in the past she personally walked the distances to Mgalanai, MacKinnon Road and sometimes to the furthest Kikobeni village where they fetched water. However she explains that the water at Kikobeni wasn’t that safe for domestic uses as it was fetched from open ditches which they later came to realize that they were used as toilets for Mau Mau prisoners during the colonial periods.

“I thank the County Government of Kwale for the water project. We can now comfortably relax and fetch water just a few meters from our homesteads. We are no longer walking those distances we used to walk in the past.” She says. 

“We sometimes used to hide or run away from elephants and buffaloes we encountered on our way to Mgalani, MacKinnon or Kikobe areas.'' Adds the elderly woman.

Some residents are also using this water project to do irrigation farming in their homesteads. A good example is Mr Lennox Mwagawari who grows water melons and vegetables such as the amaranthus famously known as ‘mchicha’ in Swahili.

Watermelon from Lennox's farm in Dokata village.

 

Kombani Methadone Center which is the only drug rehabilitation unit in Kwale County, has continued to offer hope to hundreds of addict residents one year after it was established, with numbers of those seeking help increasing.

The Medical Assisted Therapy (MAT) center was established on October 2017 by the Kwale County government with only a few drug addicts but today, it serves more than 287 recovering addicts.

Youth at Kombani MAT Center. Photo: Juma Chigodi.

Thirty three of those receiving treatment at the center were transferred from other centers with at least four new patients joining daily.

The recovering drug addicts have formed 11 outreach groups throughout the county to create awareness among other users, most of them found along the lower coast and urban centers.

Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani who together with Governor Salim Mvurya came up with the idea of establishing the Methadone Center, visited the facility recently receiving testimonies from those recovering after joining the program.

Madam Achani explains the importance of support groups among the recovering victims saying that they play a vital role in stabilizing their lives after leaving the rehabilitation center.

“Form different groups where you come from and suggest projects that will assist you in income generating activities. The county government will support you throughout the process and if you have any challenges, please do not hesitate to seek help.” The Deputy Governor advises.

On his part, the Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Social Services and Talent Management Ramadhan Masoud Bungale has pledged to support the groups by providing them with funds from his department.

The Deputy Governor says youth funds have gone a long way in benefiting the target group and assures the youth that her office will cooperate with them.

One of the addicts hailed the county program saying it had restored dignity among those who had recovered or were still in the process.

“We thank God for this recovery program by the county. It has indeed redeemed our dignity in the society and enhanced our sense of belonging to the community.” Abdul Razak explained.

Under this recovery program, the addicts are divided into groups composed of members from their respective localities, the bigger number coming from Matuga Sub County.

Kwale County has a huge number of drug addicts who in the past did not have any hope of recovering before the Medical Assisted Therapy (MAT) Center was set up in Kombani last year.

Source: Neema/Chigodi/Lenox (Kwale GPS)

Even though education is the key to improving peoples’ life, it is estimated that only 10% of Kwale County residents have a secondary level of education or above. Its is further estimated that a total of 51% of Kwale County residents have a primary level of education only. As a result the County Government of Kwale under the leadership of Governor Salim Mgala Mvurya has prioritized the education sector to ensure that education standards in Kwale County grow.

The new Upendo ECDE center in Ndavaya Ward - Kinango.

In 2013 when they were elected for their first term in office under the devolved system of government, Governor Mvurya and his Deputy Fatuma Achani came up with the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative, a program that has highly motivated the growth of education levels in Kwale County. ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ are Swahili words which literary translate to ‘Education Is Now’ in English. Through this initiative the County Government of Kwale has facilitated the construction of modern Early Childhood Development Education Centers in various parts of the county,  and also set aside a bursary fund that sponsors Kwale County students learning in various institutions across the country and outside Kenya.

Since 2013, a total of 236 modern ECDE centers have been put up in the 20 wards of Kwale county, making it easy to children access education at an early age. In every ECDE facility, the County government has put up two classrooms, a staff office, a kitchen and playing facilities for the children. The county government of Kwale through it education department has also employed more than 500 ECDE teachers/care givers. There is also a feeding program in the ECDE centers.

The old Upendo ECDE Center in Ndavaya Ward

In its bursary program, the County Government of Kwale sets aside 400 million shillings each year, where every word receives 20 million shillings. These funds are managed by ward bursary committees which are mandated to allocate bursary funds to students by County Bursary Act. Students who get admission to national schools receive 100% sponsorship for their four years of study at secondary level. Currently the county government is fully sponsoring over 3310 students (forms 2-4) in various nationals schools across Kenya, and a further 1440 in various universities. Those learning in extra county,  other secondary schools, polytechnics and other vocational training institutions get regular bursaries too from the bursary kitty. A total of 68 students from Kwale County got full scholarships to study different courses in India and some have already completed their studies and returned home.

Through its ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative, the County Government of Kwale has also upgraded various county polytechnics to better learning institutions by equipping them with learning materials and workshops tools.

This comes as the County Government of Kwale has promised to work together with Kenya Literature Bureau to ensure that goals of its ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ scholarship program are fully achieved. Speaking when Kenya Literature Bureau Board Chairman Francis Baya payed him a courtesy call in his Mvindeni office, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya commended KLB for its work in uplifting education standards in Kenya. Governor Mvurya said that through the 'Elimu Ni Sasa' initiative, education standards in Kwale County have grown tremendously.

On his part, Mr. Francis Baya praised Governor Mvurya for the initiative. The Kenya Literature Beareau team was in Kwale County for the distribution of the new syllabus books to various schools and they visited Matuga Girls Highs School, Kinango and Ramisi secondary schools.    

Though it is estimated that a total of 39% of Kwale County residents have no formal education, through the ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ initiative things have greatly changed with the number of pupils joining schools increasing over the years.

Currently according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Msambweni sub county has the highest share of residents with a secondary level of education or above at 21%, Matuga sub county has the highest share of residents with a primary level of education only at 53%, whereas Lunga Lunga sub county has the highest share of residents with no formal education at 45%.

Mangroves are a type of tropical forests, found at the edge of land and sea that are regularly flooded by tidal waters. These forests are among the most carbon-rich forests in the world. They provide important spawning grounds for commercial fish species, filtering pollutants and contaminants from entering the coastal waters and also protect coastal communities against storms, tsunamis and erosion.

Local tourists at Gazi Women Boardwalk / Photo: Ali Haji Kipapuro.

In the last 50 years it is estimated that between 30-50% of mangroves have been lost globally, and it is further estimated that mangrove cover is lost at an alarming rate of 2% annually. The main factors that contribute to mangrove ecosystems degradation are aquaculture, mangrove forests exploitation, terrestrial and marine sources of pollution and industrial and urban coastal developments.  

At Gazi Bay in Kwale County, members of a local conservation group known as the Baraka Conservation Group in Makongeni village have put their efforts together in conserving the mangrove ecosystems of that area. This Community Based Organization has 20 active members, 16 among them being female. 

According to Juma Mohammed Mwarandani who is the coordinator of Baraka Conservation Group, their members have over the years planted mangroves in areas where the mangrove forest had been degraded in the past. ‘We have planted over 5,000 casuarina trees at Makongeni Primary School. We encourage those who want constructions poles to buy these trees instead of cutting down mangrove trees.’ He explains.

The Baraka Conservation Group’s mangrove tree planting activities are under the ‘Mikoko Pamoja’ initiative at Gazi Bay launched in 2009 to research on mangrove ecosystems and to evaluate the carbon stocks they hold, and use payments for ecosystem services, specifically payments for carbon credits to safeguard conservation gains and improve the life of the local communities.

Mwarandani estimates that Baraka Conservation Group annually gets up to a million Kenya shillings from the sale of carbon credits. But according to him their credits come from their efforts of planting rhyzophora muncronata mangrove tree species.

A walk in the Gazi Bay mangroves.

Baraka Conservation Group in Makongeni village also undertakes ecotourism and fish farming projects, where tourists and researchers visit this scenic area frequently to view various fish and birds species.

At the neighboring Gazi village, is the Gazi Women Mangrove Boardwalk a community ecotourism project set up with the help of donors with an aim of conserving the mangrove ecosystems of Gazi Bay. Hundreds of local and foreign tourists visit this area to take a walk at the expansive mangrove boardwalk whilst enjoying the panoramic view of the Chale Peninsula. Funds raised from this community project benefit the Gazi community directly as the are used to pay bursaries for bright students from Gazi village and also to improve health, and education facilities and also support water projects in the area.

Kwale County Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, is rolling out a project named Increasing Small Holder Productivity and Profitability through Good Agriculture Practices (IPP-GAP), which is anticipated to bring change in the county’s agricultural sector. This project focuses on production change whereby farmers will improve their productivity through adaptation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) such as use of improved planting technologies and use of improved seeds to enable them move from subsistence to commercial agriculture.

In Conservative Agriculture, farmers mainly focus on three key farming principles which are continuous minimum soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover, mixed cropping and crop rotation. To minimize soil disturbance, farmers in Conservative Agriculture use shallow weeder to get rid of the weeds.

Jipe Moyo Women Group L-Lunga receiving seeds  / Neema Mwachome

The project also sustains crop yields while saving on production resources, maintaining or improving soil fertility and conserving water and the environment to achieve acceptable and sustainable profits. Therefore through CA farmers can achieve both sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods; farmers are enabled to receive an increased profit per unit and with the large volumes leading to optimized profits.

On Monday 11th December, 2017, Kwale County Director for Agriculture Mr. David Wanjala, flagged off the caravan distributing seeds, fertilizers, animal-drone and tractors drone implements to farmers within Lunga Lunga, Matuga and Msambweni sub counties.

The IPP-GAP Project that started back in 2015 targets 150 farmer groups from Kwale County and it is expected to run to 1st June 2018. Targeted farmers are trained by Kwale County Agricultural Extension Officers on how to specialize implements for planting and applied fertilizer. Trainings are carried out at a central demonstration farm belonging to one of the farmers group. The group mentorship involves meeting each group for a minimum of 3 hours each week for a total of 15 weeks per cropping season.

Besides increased productivity, Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA) links Kwale farmers to the markets. ‘’We want to ensure that farmers in this County produce quality, quantity and consistent produce.” said Mr.Wanjala. “The farmers should seek advice from the County Agricultural Officers to know which crops do better in their areas.’’ He added.

Among the many beneficiaries of the project which focuses on Semi-arid areas with little rain, is Jipe Moyo women group of Lunga Lunga with 26 members which started in 2009 with poultry farming, before adopting Conservative farming in 2015.

On her side, Agnes Gitahu, the chairlady of the Jipe Moyo women group said Conservative farming reduces costs. “We use herbicide to get rid of weeds and plant our crops; this herbicide is cheaper compared to the tractor service charge we pay when preparing our farms.” She said. Jipe Moyo women group farmers rotate from one farmer to another in a merry go round way to help each other in planting, and they mainly grow maize, green grams, cow peas and cassava.

Source: Neema Mwachome

Amidst huge ancient baobab trees at the northern most part of the exotic shoreline of Diani, lies the Kongo Mosque, a unique monument that has stood for ages. Believed to have been built in the 14th century by the early Arab merchants who visited the East African coast, Kongo Mosque formerly known as the Diani Persian Mosque has been documented as one of the oldest mosques in the region.

The Kongo Mosque of Diani.

The name Kongo was derived from a name found inscribed on a stone on one of the ancient graves at the mosque compound, where one Muslim faithful Swaddiq Kongo was buried centuries back. This mosque was abandoned when the Arabs left the East African coast and it ended up being engulfed in a thicket. However 300 years ago, it is said that a native Muslim scholar by the name Sheikh Mwinyi Kombo had a revelation while in his sleep, directing him to look for this mosque. After a couple of days searching, Mwinyi Kombo found the mosque and him together with the local community then cleansed it and from that time onwards it has been used for prayers.

A historical monument lying on a serene environment overlooking the Indian ocean, the Kongo mosque is a remarkable attraction to local and foreign tourists. Its unique architectural design makes it mosque distinct. But being a sacred building, visitors who come to the area are required to observe sanity while in the mosque compound. Here alcoholic drinks, music and people entering the mosque compound wearing swimming costumes are things that are not allowed at all.

Kongo Mosque area.

The story of Kongo mosque does not end there, meters into the ocean there is a huge round stone. The locals believe that the stone is a sacred, and in the past many people frequented it to make rituals. It is narrated that the stone used to revolve but nowadays it has stopped, for reasons not known by the present day narrators. The stone can be accessed during low tides but when the tide is high, it is completely coverd by water.

Seated on an 18 accre peace of land, the Kongo mosque has ample parking space for muslim faithfuls and other visitors going there. But as you ponder visiting the Kongo mosque or Diani beach as a whole for a swim, it is advisable to follow instructions given out by the life guards deployed here by the local authorities for your own safety.

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.

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.