Socio-economic aspects of water management along the coast of Kenya

The coast of Kenya has a narrow coastal plain and stretches from Tanzania in the south to Somalia in the north. A number of important rivers drain through it. Population distribution is quite uneven along this coastal zone having developed in clusters linked to artisanal fishing, trade and port activities. The coast's northern districts of Lamu and Tana River are sparsely populated due to a harsh climate and lack of fresh water. The majority of the population is concentrated in Malindi (formerly part of the big Kilifi district), Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta districts.