The initiative will not only promote tourism but also strengthen ecological protection efforts
Traditional songs and dances by young women, men, and elders echoed through the heart of the rich Chale Island mangrove forest in Msambweni, Kwale County, as the community celebrated a new chapter in their development.
The joy marked the official launch of the Chale Community Boardwalk, a project residents describe as a turning point for local tourism and economic growth. The boardwalk was unveiled on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in a colourful ceremony presided over by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani.
The current 100-metre plastic made footpath is expected to serve as a major tourist attraction, ofering visitors a unique experience of the island’s pristine mangrove ecosystem while boosting livelihoods for surrounding communities. Constructed at a cost of Ksh5.7 million, the project is set for expansion in future to stretch up to 900 metres, opening up a broader, panoramic view of Chale’s magniicent mangrove forests and natural ambience.
Unique experience
The project was constructed by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute through a multi-agency partnership involving the national government, the Kwale County Government, the UNEP, the Go Blue, and the local community, among other stakeholders.
According to Chale Community Boardwalk project manager Suleiman Ronga Dzilala, the long-term plan is to transform the site into a premier eco-tourism destination. He said the community envisions constructing loating restaurants, accommodation bandas, and other essential social amenities to ofer visitors a unique and memorable experience.
“We want tourists to feel the true taste of Chale’s beauty and culture. With these facilities, we aim to create a world-class attraction that beneits the community while preserving our environment,” he said.
Dzilala noted that Chale’s abundance of crabs and its rich ishing grounds present an opportunity for the community to venture into aquaculture. He said they plan to introduce ish and crab farming to increase local production, improve earnings, and create sustainable livelihoods for residents. He added that the boardwalk project will not only promote tourism but also strengthen conservation efforts.
Through the initiative, the community hopes to protect and expand the mangrove forest while passing vital environmental knowledge to younger generations. He added that members of the community have already received training from the WRTI on conservation management and business skills, equipping them to sustainably run and beneit from the project.
Additional funding
Dzilala, however, emphasised that achieving their long-term vision will require additional funding and broader stakeholder support.
He said the area also lacks key utilities such as electricity, internet connectivity, and fresh water. “We need better infrastructure, good roads for tourists to reach the site, a reliable network, and access to clean water because what we have here is too salty,” he said.
The project’s treasurer, Rehema Suleiman, welcomed the initiative, noting that it will play a signiicant role in improving the livelihoods of the local community.
She said the project is expected to create a wide range of employment opportunities for young people, including roles in security, tour guiding, hospitality services such as cooking and waiting, as well as small-scale businesses like curio selling. Suleiman said women will also beneit from the initiative, helping to promote gender equity and inclusive growth within the community. She said for a start the community will charge locals Ksh200 while foreigners Ksh500 to go through the boardwalk.
Addressing residents during the launch, CS Miano assured the community of full government support to ensure the success of the project.Miano noted that the Chale Community Boardwalk aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which seeks to boost local tourism and empower communities.