Mkwiro residents in Kwale urge Gov't to build sea wall amid rising ocean waters
A view of Wasini island from the Indian Ocean. Inset: Mshemanga Hamisi during an engagement forum at PrideInn Hotel. Courtesy photos
Residents of Mkwiro village in Wasini, Lunga Lunga sub-County, are calling on the county government to urgently construct a sea wall to prevent their graveyards from being swept away by rising sea levels.
The community is concerned as the ocean continues to encroach on the small piece of dry land they rely on for burying their loved ones.
Mkwiro is located on Wasini Island, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, and the locals have traditionally used the small, dry land for burials.
However, due to the adverse effects of climate change, the sea has risen, eroding the land and threatening to wash away graves and burial sites.
"We are deeply worried about the future. The ocean is taking away our land, and soon we may have nowhere to bury our dead," said Mr Mshemanga Hamisi, who is the Chairperson of the Mkwiro Community Forest Association (CFA).
Mr Hamisi added that several graves, particularly those of the elderly, have already been washed into the sea.
The residents say the situation is growing increasingly urgent.
"The rising water levels are a major threat.Some graves, especially older ones, have been completely swept away in the past few months. We fear that if nothing is done, all our burial grounds will soon be lost," he explained.
Locals have called on the government to intervene and build a sea wall to protect their land from further erosion.
However, their repeated efforts to secure funding and construction support for the sea wall have not yielded results.
“We've written several proposals and made numerous requests, but the response has been disappointing,” said Mr Hamisi.
Adding that without the sea wall, they have no protection, and their efforts to tackle the issue on their own is not enough.
The residents fear that if the government does not act soon, future generations may not have a place to honour their deceased.
Ms Fatma Mzee, a villager, echoed Mr Hamisi's concerns, expressing fear for the future of the island’s community and its traditions.
"This is where our ancestors are buried.If the ocean continues to rise, it will not only destroy our homes but erase the memory of our loved ones," Ms Mzee said.
Local leaders are urging both the national and county governments to prioritize the construction of the sea wall and provide resources to protect Mkwiro’s coastline.
"This is a matter of life and death for us.The sea wall is not just about protecting our graves; it is about saving our community and the way of life we have known for generations," Mr Hamisi told AVDelta News.
