Mtwapa is a beautiful town located in 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...

's Coast Province

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...

. The town is situated approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) north-east 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....

 and is served by Mombasa-Malindi road. The settlement is also the location of the Mombasa-Mtwapa matatu

Matatu

In Kenya and neighboring nations matatu are privately owned minibuses although pick-up trucks were in the past pressed into service as these East African share taxis. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of the famous or slogans and sayings, some religious.These minibuses ply set routes,...

 terminus

Bus terminus

A bus terminus is a designated place where a bus or coach starts or ends its scheduled route. The terminus is the designated place that a timetable is timed from. Termini can be located at bus stations, interchanges, bus garages or simple bus stops. Termini can both start and stop at the same...

. The Mtwapa Creek is an Indian Ocean inlet

Inlet

An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...

 at Mtwapa, which is the border between Mombasa and Mtwapa (connected through a bridge). Mtwapa Creek is a starting point for deep sea fishing tours. Also lurking in the town is a 19th-century prison more commonly known as Simo la tewa.

Origins of the town's name

There are unconfirmed myths about how the town gained its name. One such myth is that the community that originally sprung in the area would often seek acknowledgment if the person living in the area was "mtu wa hapa" - Swahili, that loosely translates to 'he who lives among us'. The phrase was especially used to prevent a person otherwise unknown to the rest of the community from being ostracized from the area as an outsider.

Infrastructural developments

Mtwapa is one of the coastal regions fastest growing property markets. There have been recent developments of recreational centers, religious buildings, residential homes and low cost rental villas. Second only to the southern coast (Diani area) Mtwapa is home to a large number of European retirees and holiday makers from countries such as Germany, Netherlands, England who have built homes in the vicinity.

External links

• Information Guide Mtwapa City Mombasa Coast
• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – Kenya AdminLevels 1-4