Culture, fun and millions: The pomp and colour at Lamu Festival

The Lamu Cultural Festival is an annual celebration that showcases the rich culture and heritage of the Swahili people of Lamu, which has captivated the world for centuries.

This year’s event cost the Lamu County Government Sh25 million.

Speaking during the Governor’s Lamu Cultural Festival Gala Dinner held at the Lamu Polytechnic on Friday night, organisers said that even at the most conservative spending estimate of Sh7,000 per visitor per day, the festival injected more than Sh400 million into the local economy.

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Governor Issa Timamy said the money was generated through accommodation of visitors and tourists in hotels, guest houses, Airbnbs and restaurants.

Mr Timamy noted that traders in transport, food, crafts and other tourism-related activities also benefited massively throughout the three-day cultural fete.

He cited this year as having the highest economic impact recorded since the festival’s inception more than two decades ago.

The annual Lamu Cultural Festival was introduced in 2000 as a strategy to promote tourism and to preserve and celebrate the region’s unique Swahili heritage.

“Our economy here heavily relies on tourism. Over the three days of the cultural festival, we’ve received more than 20,000 guests and tourists. You can imagine, if one guest spends at least Sh7,000 on hotel bookings and food,” said Mr Timamy.

He added, “I can attest here today that Lamu will experience a circulation of over Sh400 million within the three days of the cultural fete. That’s good money. We’ve already set aside Sh10 million as prizes for finalists in the various competitions. This shows why it’s crucial that the Lamu Cultural Festival continues to be celebrated here.”

Shortly after arriving in Lamu for the festival on Friday, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the national government was committed to improving tourism destinations such as Lamu through the creation of various avenues. Ms Miano identified the Lamu Cultural Festival as one of the key strategies for embracing cultural tourism as part of the sector’s offering.

She praised the Lamu community for its commitment to preserving culture and noted that the festival has grown into a major attraction.

“I am happy to be here in Lamu for the cultural fete. Just the other week, I attended the Maasai Cultural Festival, and it was also tremendous. As a government, we’re committed to growing cultural tourism as a key booster of the tourism sector and the economy. Every time they’re successfully organised, the Lamu and Maa cultural festivals attract thousands of tourists, both local and international,” said Ms Miano.

She urged organisers, especially county governments, to continue working closely with her ministry to open up some of the festivals to global audiences and showcase the richness of Kenya’s heritage.

Speaking during the Gala Dinner, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Investment Promotion in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Abubakar Hassan, said tourism contributes more than 10 per cent of Kenya’s economy.

“Events like the Lamu Cultural Festival are crucial. They create employment for many youths. The state will continue coordinating with county governments to create avenues that attract tourists and investors so that the common agenda of boosting development and the country’s economy can be achieved,” said Mr Hassan.

Also present during the dinner was President Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, who said she was happy to attend the festival for the first time.

“Kama Lamu ni tamu, then Kenya pia ni tamu (If Lamu is sweet, then Kenya is also sweet),” she said.

Among other attendees were UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, Lamu Deputy Governor Dr Mbarak Bahjaj, Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza and four ministers from Jubbaland State in Somalia.

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Meanwhile, boat operators, traders and hoteliers are among the business people who made a killing during the 2025 Lamu Cultural Festival.

Most of those interviewed said they recorded great profits thanks to the high number of visitors attending the event.

Wilson Kamau from Mpeketoni said relocating to Lamu Old Town three days earlier had paid off.

“I sell jewellery, shoes and kofias (hats). My base is in Mpeketoni, but I decided to come to Lamu during the festival week. I have sold everything in just three days. I’ve recorded a significant increase in profit—almost double or triple my normal income,” said Mr Kamau.

Abdalla Ali, a hotelier in Lamu Town, said his premises had been fully booked since the festival began on Thursday.

Mr Ali said the event had brought an influx of both domestic and international visitors, creating a massive boom for the local economy.

“I wish the cultural festival period were extended. Instead of three days, let it be a whole week so that we continue enjoying the benefits of the event,” he said.

Juma Wanje, a coxswain in Lamu, said their boats had been busy since Monday, ferrying passengers from the Mokowe Jetty to Lamu for the event.

A similar situation was reported by Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators along the Lamu–Mombasa route, with most bus companies fully booked.

This year’s Lamu Cultural Festival is themed “Lamu: A living heritage – fostering resilience, sustainability, and global cultural dialogue.”

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest continuously inhabited Swahili settlement in East Africa, Lamu offers a unique living case study in cultural preservation and sustainable tourism.

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