Wasini Island
Wasini Island, Kenya
About
Wasini Island lies off the southern Indian Ocean coast of Kenya next to Shimoni. It is approximately 5km long and 1km across. The Island is sparsely populated and undeveloped. There are no cars or roads. A site of early Swahili civilization, this coral island is occupied by the Vumba people, an indigenous group of Bantu speaking peoples who have a rich history. They speak Swahili and Kivumba and they number about 1500. Mkwiro and Wasini are the two villages present on the island - each at opposite ends. Their history includes invasion and settlement of Arab influence from the Persian Gulf states, and from the island of Zanzibar, further south. Located in south west Kenya, this population has the highest infant mortality rate in the country. Poverty levels are indicative of poor historical and current development. Paradoxically, the island is some 10 km from the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park. This park annually attracts many thousands of overseas and local tourists per year. The Kenya Wildlife Service monitors activities and there is a per visitor entry fee. These fees are not recirculated currently within the auspices of the collection area - instead they are remitted to Headquarters in Nairobi. The majority of visitors arrive on prepaid packages organised outside of the Island and outside of Shimoni. The larger operators are foreign owned. Many such organisations claim to operate responsible tourism - eco tourism. The tourist numbers generated in the area over the years are not monitored for environmental or socio economic impact. Shimoni, across the channel, is the stopping off point to reach this island, and is some 75 km south of Mombasa. Women groups on the island have established a nature walk in the beautiful coral gardens on the Western end. Proceeds help needy Wasini students and other Wasini benefactors. On the northern end there is a well established, but rudimentary orphanage. These indigenous Non Government Organisations and self help groups supplement an activity across the water at Shimoni whereby visitors frequent the "Shimoni Slave Caves" - a community based project. Though it is questionable to what extent and what part both locations played in the Slave Trade, it is true to say that both were involved in it. Orientated west to the east, Wasini is blasted by the winds of the southern monsoon which bring the long rains, and the vigour of the Kaz Kazi, the north east trade winds. The island does not have another natural source of fresh water and this resource is largely under utilised. Kenya's power grid does not extend here. The southern sand and mudflats of the island entrap large quantities of flotsam - mainly items of plastic and rubber floating in on the tides. Between the Island and the mainland lies a stretch of calm water in a channel which is deep enough for a natural port and currently the only one in this area for ocean going trading Dhows and fishing vessels. Port immigration and customs facilities are present and provide services for those trade Dhows and people arriving from Tanzania, or further afield. Fishing is a main subsistence occupation, using trees hewn into canoes, meek refuge in rough waters of the Pemba Channel and there are repeated fatalities using such craft in each fishing season. There are also several sports fishing vessels which pass into the Pemba Channel - a fishing ground famous for Kenya, All Africa and World IGFA fishing records. The presence of "long liner" fishing vessels offshore, rising water levels, destructive fishing methods using small seine nets and dynamite on reefs, have all had an undoubted impact.
