Ensuring Safer Beaches: Beach Safety Management Protocols in Kenya’s Coastal and Great Lakes Regions

By Andrew Mwangura

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Kenya’s aquatic environments represent some of the nation’s most valuable natural assets.

The 500-kilometre coastline stretching from Shimoni to Malindi, alongside the expansive waters of Lake Victoria, Lake Naivasha, and other Great Lakes, collectively attract millions of visitors annually.

From the pristine shores of Diani and the historic waters of Lamu to the fishing communities around Lake Victoria, these water bodies are integral to Kenya’s economy, culture, and recreation.

However, beneath their scenic beauty lies a growing crisis that demands immediate attention: the alarming rate of water-related accidents and fatalities that could be prevented through comprehensive Beach Safety Management Protocols.

Statistical Reality

The numbers paint a sobering picture of the current safety situation in Kenya’s aquatic environments. 

According to data from the Kenya Red Cross Society and coastal county health departments, Kenya records approximately 150-200 drowning incidents annually along its coastal region alone. 

The majority of these incidents occur during peak tourist seasons between December and March, with Mombasa and Kilifi counties accounting for nearly 60% of all coastal drowning cases.

The Great Lakes Region presents an even more alarming scenario. Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake, claims an estimated 300-400 lives annually across the Kenyan shoreline, with fishing-related accidents accounting for roughly 70% of these fatalities. 

The Kenya Maritime Authority reports that water transport accidents in the lake result in approximately 50 deaths per year, while recreational drowning incidents contribute another 80-100 fatalities annually.

Smaller lakes such as Naivasha record 15-20 drowning cases each year, predominantly involving tourists and local residents engaged in water sports.

Combined, Kenya’s coastal and Great Lakes regions experience over 500 water-related deaths annually, making drowning one of the leading causes of accidental death in the country.

These statistics represent not just numbers, but families torn apart, communities devastated, and a tourism industry operating under perpetual risk.

Decompression Chambers

Among the most glaring deficiencies in Kenya’s aquatic safety infrastructure is the absence of hyperbaric decompression chambers at key medical facilities. 

Currently, Kenya lacks a single functioning decompression chamber capable of treating diving-related injuries, forcing victims of decompression sickness to seek treatment abroad or face potentially fatal consequences.

The establishment of decompression chambers at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu represents a critical need that can no longer be ignored.

These facilities serve as the primary referral hospitals for their respective regions and are strategically positioned to provide life-saving hyperbaric treatment.

Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital serves the entire coastal region, where scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and underwater construction work expose hundreds of individuals to decompression risks annually.

The hospital already handles numerous diving-related emergencies, but without a decompression chamber, medical staff can only provide supportive care while patients face potentially irreversible neurological damage or death; and

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital** would serve the Great Lakes Region, where commercial diving operations for ship repairs, underwater construction, and research activities are increasingly common. 

The deep waters of Lake Victoria present decompression risks similar to marine environments, yet the region remains completely unprepared to handle such emergencies.

The absence of these facilities forces emergency medical evacuations to South Africa or other countries with hyperbaric capabilities, a process that typically takes 12-24 hours—far exceeding the critical treatment window for decompression sickness.

This delay often results in permanent disability or death, outcomes that would be entirely preventable with local hyperbaric treatment capabilities.

Comprehensive Safety Protocols

The establishment of Beach Safety Management Protocols across Kenya’s coastal and Great Lakes regions is no longer a luxury—it is a life-and-death necessity.

These protocols must address the unique challenges faced by each region while maintaining consistent safety standards throughout the country.

Professional Lifeguard Services

Currently, fewer than 30% of Kenya’s popular beaches maintain professional lifeguard services, and those that do often operate with inadequately trained personnel.

The Great Lakes Region fares even worse, with virtually no organized water safety services despite heavy recreational and commercial use. 

Comprehensive protocols would mandate certified lifeguard coverage at all public beaches and popular water recreation areas, ensuring trained professionals are available to prevent accidents and respond to emergencies.

Standardized Emergency Response Systems

The current fragmented approach to water emergency response creates dangerous delays when every second counts. Unified protocols would establish clear communication channels between lifeguards, emergency medical services, and hospital facilities, reducing response times and improving coordination.

This is particularly crucial for areas requiring hyperbaric treatment, where rapid evacuation to specialized facilities can mean the difference between full recovery and permanent disability.

Public Education and Awareness Campaigns

Many water-related accidents stem from a lack of awareness about aquatic dangers. Rip currents along the coast claim numerous lives each year, while unfamiliarity with lake conditions contributes to Great Lakes fatalities. 

Comprehensive safety protocols would include mandatory public education programs, teaching locals and tourists about water safety, recognizing dangerous conditions, and proper emergency response procedures.

Consistent safety equipment standards across all regions would ensure that life-saving tools are readily available when needed. 

This includes rescue boards, life rings, first aid stations, and communication equipment at all supervised areas. 

Additionally, clear signage in multiple languages would warn of specific local hazards and provide emergency contact information.

Safety as Investment

Beyond the moral obligation to protect lives, establishing comprehensive beach safety protocols represents a sound economic investment. 

Kenya’s coastal tourism generates over $1.2 billion annually, while the Great Lakes Region contributes significantly to the country’s fishing and transport industries. 

Water-related accidents not only claim lives but also damage Kenya’s reputation as a safe tourist destination.

International visitors increasingly prioritize safety when choosing destinations. Countries like Australia, Thailand, and Spain have demonstrated that robust beach safety infrastructure enhances rather than burdens tourism development.

By investing in comprehensive safety protocols now, Kenya positions itself as a responsible and attractive destination for international visitors while protecting the domestic population that depends on these water resources.

Blueprint

Establishing effective Beach Safety Management Protocols requires coordinated action across multiple levels of government and industry.

The National Government must provide policy framework and funding, while county governments implement and maintain local safety measures.

Key stakeholders including the Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Red Cross Society, and private sector operators must collaborate to ensure comprehensive coverage.

The protocols should establish minimum standards for lifeguard training and certification, mandate safety equipment at all public water recreation areas, create standardized emergency response procedures, and require regular safety audits. 

Additionally, the immediate installation of decompression chambers at the two designated referral hospitals must be prioritized as a critical component of the overall safety infrastructure.

International partnerships with established beach safety organizations can provide technical expertise and training resources, while regional cooperation with neighboring countries facing similar challenges can share costs and best practices.

Every day that passes without comprehensive Beach Safety Management Protocols represents another day of unnecessary risk for the millions of Kenyans and visitors who depend on and enjoy the country’s aquatic resources.

The statistical evidence is clear, the infrastructure needs are identified, and the economic benefits are demonstrable.

Kenya has the opportunity to become a regional leader in aquatic safety, setting standards that other East African nations can emulate.

By acting decisively now, the country can prevent hundreds of unnecessary deaths annually while strengthening its position as a premier destination for water-based recreation and tourism.

The establishment of decompression chambers at Coast General and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga hospitals, combined with comprehensive safety protocols across all water recreation areas, represents an investment in Kenya’s most precious resource—its people.

The cost of inaction, measured in lives lost and opportunities missed, far exceeds the investment required to create a truly safe aquatic environment.

Kenya’s waters have sustained life and livelihoods for generations. It is our responsibility to ensure they continue to do so safely for generations to come.

The time for comprehensive Beach Safety Management Protocols is not tomorrow—it is today.

The writer is a Maritime Affairs Analyst and Maritime Policy Advocate.