Mariakani
Encyclopedia
Mariakani is a town lying on the boundary of Kaloleni and Kinango districts (formerly Kilifi and Kwale respectively), Coast Province
of Kenya
, 36 kilometres northwest of the port city of Mombasa
.
The administrative areas which make up Mriakani today was shared between the Durumas, Giriamas and Kambas. The British colonists considered it more prudent to administer the dominant ethnic groupings separately. The Kilifi county side had a Giriama and Kamba Chief to take care of the interest of the two ethnic groups. Whereas on the Kwale County side, that is Mwavumbo Location, there was another set of two chiefs to represent the Duruma and Kamba people. The last of these chiefs were the late Chief Johnson Mwero Mwaiga from Matumbi and Ex-Senior Chief Nzana wa Mumo from Gwasheni. From 1960s and especially after Kenya attained Independence, the practice was discontinued to give way to one chief for the entire Location. The first chief for the Location in Mwavumbo was Mkalla Mwero from Matumbi.
Today: The boundary between the two Counties has changed from the colonial times but today is the Railway line from Mazeras
town up to Maji ya Chumvi centre. The origin of the centre is set in the 15th Century during the long distance trade. This is where Quivers of arrows and bows were left behind by the inland traders from Ukambani when approaching Mombasa Island as a sign of peace. "Riaka" (Mariaka plural is Duruma word for quiver; Mariakani translates as the place of quiver in Duruma language. The Giriama word for quiver is similar to the Kamba: Thyaka though it may be spelled slightly different. The Kamba call Quiver "Thyaka" (singular) hence the town is also called "Mathyakani" when speaking in Kigiriama or Kikamba. Most of the business activities are done on the Kaloleni side owing to the shift of transport preference to Mombasa- Nairobi Highway rather than the rail line and station. However, earlier business and development endeavours were done jointly by both side of the boundary. These include the Mariakani High school, the Kwale-Kilifi Milk Scheme Cooperative of 1960s, slaughter houses among others.
The Kwale County side is largely Mwavumbo location and is rarely written of. Its population is dominantly Durumas and Coastal Kambas, the descendants of the explorers' routes scouts and long distance traders.
Mariakani (Kilifi county side) hosts a town council with a population of 67,984, of whom 10,987 are classified urban (1999 census ). The town council consists of five wards: Kaliangombe, Kawala, Mariakani, Mugumo-wa-Patsa, Tsangatsini. All of them are located within Kaloleni Constituency
. Central Mariakani is located in Mariakani location
of Kaloleni
division of Kilifi district .
Coast Province
Coast Province of Kenya, along the Indian Ocean, is one of Kenya's seven administrative provinces outside Nairobi. It comprises the Indian Ocean coastal strip with the capital city at Mombasa and is inhabited by the Mijikenda and Swahili, among others...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, 36 kilometres northwest of the port city of Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
.
Overview
Colonial time AdministrationThe administrative areas which make up Mriakani today was shared between the Durumas, Giriamas and Kambas. The British colonists considered it more prudent to administer the dominant ethnic groupings separately. The Kilifi county side had a Giriama and Kamba Chief to take care of the interest of the two ethnic groups. Whereas on the Kwale County side, that is Mwavumbo Location, there was another set of two chiefs to represent the Duruma and Kamba people. The last of these chiefs were the late Chief Johnson Mwero Mwaiga from Matumbi and Ex-Senior Chief Nzana wa Mumo from Gwasheni. From 1960s and especially after Kenya attained Independence, the practice was discontinued to give way to one chief for the entire Location. The first chief for the Location in Mwavumbo was Mkalla Mwero from Matumbi.
Today: The boundary between the two Counties has changed from the colonial times but today is the Railway line from Mazeras
Mazeras
Mazeras is a township in Coast Province, Kenya, approximately north-west of Mombasa.- Sandstone :Mazeras is known for its sandstone, part of the Duruma series – an extremity of the topology forming the Shimba Hills National Reserve...
town up to Maji ya Chumvi centre. The origin of the centre is set in the 15th Century during the long distance trade. This is where Quivers of arrows and bows were left behind by the inland traders from Ukambani when approaching Mombasa Island as a sign of peace. "Riaka" (Mariaka plural is Duruma word for quiver; Mariakani translates as the place of quiver in Duruma language. The Giriama word for quiver is similar to the Kamba: Thyaka though it may be spelled slightly different. The Kamba call Quiver "Thyaka" (singular) hence the town is also called "Mathyakani" when speaking in Kigiriama or Kikamba. Most of the business activities are done on the Kaloleni side owing to the shift of transport preference to Mombasa- Nairobi Highway rather than the rail line and station. However, earlier business and development endeavours were done jointly by both side of the boundary. These include the Mariakani High school, the Kwale-Kilifi Milk Scheme Cooperative of 1960s, slaughter houses among others.
The Kwale County side is largely Mwavumbo location and is rarely written of. Its population is dominantly Durumas and Coastal Kambas, the descendants of the explorers' routes scouts and long distance traders.
Mariakani (Kilifi county side) hosts a town council with a population of 67,984, of whom 10,987 are classified urban (1999 census ). The town council consists of five wards: Kaliangombe, Kawala, Mariakani, Mugumo-wa-Patsa, Tsangatsini. All of them are located within Kaloleni Constituency
Kaloleni Constituency
Kaloleni Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of three constituencies in Kilifi District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :- External links :*...
. Central Mariakani is located in Mariakani location
Locations of Kenya
||Locations are a type of administrative region in Kenya. Location are a fourth level subdivision below Provinces, Districts and Divisions. Locations are further subdivided into Sub-locations . As of 1999 census there were 2,427 locations and 6,612 sublocations in Kenya .Each division in Kenya is...
of Kaloleni
Kaloleni, Kenya
Kaloleni is a settlement in Kilifi District, Coast Province of Kenya.It is about by road north of Mombasa city center.-Food and water supplies:...
division of Kilifi district .