Mtwapa

Mtwapa is a town located in Kenya's Kilifi County. The town is situated approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north-east of Mombasa on the Mombasa-Malindi road. The town is also the location of the Mombasa-Mtwapa matatu terminus. Mtwapa Creek is an Indian Ocean inlet at Mtwapa, which is the border between Mombasa and Mtwapa (connected through a bridge). Mtwapa Creek is a starting point for deep sea fishing tours. In town is a 19th-century prison more commonly known as Shimo la tewa.

Origins of the town's name

There are unconfirmed myths about how the town gained its name. One such myth is that the original community in the area would often seek acknowledgment if the person living in the area was "mtu wa hapa" - in Swahili, this loosely translates to 'he who lives among us'. The phrase was used to prevent a person otherwise unknown to the rest of the community from being ostracized from the area as an outsider.

Infrastructural developments

Mtwapa is one of the coastal regions fastest growing property markets. There have been recent developments of recreational centers, religious buildings, residential homes and low cost rental villas. Second only to the southern coast (Diani area) Mtwapa is home to a large number of European retirees and holiday makers from countries such as Germany, Holland and Britain who have built homes in the vicinity.