An aerial photo of Kiwayu Island in Lamu East. The island is considered unique due to its natural beauty.
Ms Raisa Aoko lies relaxed on a beachfront sun lounger, watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean, painting the sky in fiery oranges and purples.
She listens quietly to the gentle waves, allowing the stress of daily life to melt away.
Aoko is on Kiwayu, a remote island on the northern fringes of the Lamu Archipelago, enjoying two days of tranquility in a stretch of land that promises an unspoiled tropical escape.
“I feel like I don’t want to leave this place. It has given me deep contentment, a mental reset, and pure vacation vibes. Kiwayu is paradise unspoiled,” she says.
Kiwayu is one of 65 islands in Lamu, a unique coastal region tourist destination.
An aerial photo of Kiwayu Island in Lamu East. The island is considered unique due to its natural beauty.
Its white-sand beaches, clear waters, winding mangroves, and lush vegetation drew international attention for the wrong reasons in 2011, after the abduction of British tourist Judith Tebbutt and the murder of her husband at Kiwayu Safari Village Resort.
Over a decade later, Kiwayu has recovered and emerged as a sought-after destination.
Measuring 12 kilometres long and only half a kilometre wide, it hosts one village, a school, wells, and boreholes. Rock pools dot its beaches, and narrow creeks carve through the undergrowth.
A section of the beachfront and ocean view of Kiwayu Island in Lamu East.
The Lamu tourism office reports that between 2022 and 2025, Kiwayu welcomed at least 5,000 tourists annually, both domestic and international, up from near-zero during periods of terrorism-related fear. From a single hotel in 2011, the island now has at least seven operational mini-hotels, resorts, and bandas.
British tourist William Jack, on a six-month tour of Lamu, praised Kiwayu’s pristine condition. “No construction or pollution. The landscapes, clean beaches, and untouched ecosystems—monkeys, birds, turtles, dolphins—are astonishing,” he said.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy describes Kiwayu as the county’s cleanest island, offering peace, natural beauty, and rich Swahili heritage. Tourism Executive Aisha Miraj says the island is marketed as a raw, wild coastal experience, with shallow coral reefs perfect for snorkelling and diving.
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, during an interview with the Nation on November 21, 2025.
Visitors can enjoy water sports, hiking, birdwatching, and traditional fishing. Nearby Kiunga Marine National Reserve, a UNESCO biosphere, showcases diverse marine life, including dolphins and the endangered dugong.
