Kwale is a small town in and the capital of Kwale County, Kenya. It is located at around ; 30 km southwest of Mombasa and 15 km inland. The town has an urban population of 10,063. It is next to the Shimba Hills National Reserve. The colorful town of Μombasa can be seen from Golini due to its high altitude. Past Kwale is The Shimba Hills Hotel and Mwalughanje Elephant Sanctuary running along the KWS strip. Kwale is the main town of the Digo and Duruma people. These people belong to the Mijikenda ethnic group of the former Coast Province of Kenya. Other tribes found in the county include the Kambas, Arabs and Indians though to a very small proportion compared to the Digos and Durumas. The area extends from Shika Adabu in the south, to Kinango and then southwards to Lunga-Lunga on the border with Tanzania.
Politics
The governor for Kwale County is Salim Mgalla Mvuyra who ran on an ODM ticket in the 2013 general elections. His rivals in the race were Mwarapayo wa-Mwachai, Rigga Kassim Mambo, Simeon Mkalla, Michael Nyanje and James Dena. The senator for the county was the former MP of Matuga Constituency the late Boy Juma. His opponents were immediate former MP of Matuga Constituency Chirau Ali Mkwakwere and Nicholas Zani. The Women's Representative is Zeinab Kalekye Chidzuga who, like Governor Mvurya, ran on an ODM ticket. She ran against Fatuma Masito and Mwanasaid Makoti. This is the first time that the people of Kenya have had to vote for a governor, senator and women's representative. Since independence in 1963, Kwale has had 4 members of parliament. Juma Boy was a well-known trade union activist. He was the first to hold the seat. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his son, The late Boy Juma Boy, who served for three 5-year terms. He was ousted by Suleiman Kamole in the 1997 general elections. Kamole served for one term before being ousted by Chirau Ali Mwakwere in the 2002 general elections. Mwakwere served for 2 consecutive terms. He unsuccessfully ran for the senatorial seat in 2013. Kwale County has 4 constituencies namely Matuga, Kinango, Msambweni and Lunga Lunga. The members of parliament for these areas are Hassan Mwanyoha, Gonzi Rai, Suleiman Dori and Khatib Mwashetani respectively. Kwale County, like many other counties in the Coastal region, is a stronghold of the Ora. Kwale is a very important town for small scale farmers from the inland areas of Golini, Kinango, Mkongani, Mwaluphamba, Tiribe and many others for the sale and transport of their produce. Among other farm products, Kwale produces oranges, pawpaws, mangoes, bixa, coconuts, a variety of vegetables and cereals.
