History

Mombasa is a historical city. It has been around since the 1st and 15th century. Throughout its history it has seen occupancy by British, Arab and Portuguese settlers. Many traders did attempt to enforce their governance on the town due to its advantageously central location, where Arab influence is felt prominently till date. The town of Mombasa remained the center of the Arab trade in ivory and slaves from the 8th to the 16th century. It is known that Arab traders sailed down around to the coast of Kenya from the first century AD who continued to build trade along the ports of Mombasa and Lamu.

Portuguese had their influence on the port that changed the face of the land by burning it almost three times. It is believed that Vasco da Gama was the first known European to visit Mombasa, whose purpose of exploration was to spread the Christian faith to further expand Portugal’s trading area. Until 1698, the Portuguese controlled the city, but soon the Omani Arabs took over the charge. Finally, the British took control of Mombasa in 1895, wherein the British East African Protectorate was established.From 1887 to 1907, Mombasa remained the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate.The British rule ended and Kenya received its independence on the 12th December 1963