Lamu Sets Sh100 Million Budget for Cultural Festival to Revive Tourism Glow

By Mbungu Harrison

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The Lamu County Government is set to spend Ksh100 million to host the 23rd edition of the Lamu Cultural Festival in a bid to boost tourism within the coastal county.

The edition is running from Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd 2025 with the expectation that the festival will draw in 30,000 domestic and foreign tourists.

Setting the tone to the three-day cultural festival, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, has so far issued 40 women self help groups with a Ksh2 million cash grant aimed at ensuring the more than 250 beneficiaries will use the funds as capital to set up a food bazaar for display and sale along the streets of Lamu during the three day cultural showcase.

The county government is further expected to spend big in marketing and showcasing Lamu as the premier tourist destination following its increased investment in various activities; cultural, sporting and artistic designed to draw crowds all while cementing Lamu’s identity as the Island of festivals.

With this year’s theme dubbed ‘Lamu: A Living Heritage Fostering Resilience, Sustainability and Global Cultural Dialogue’, the county is keen on ensuring that the festival will jumpstart the tourism and festivities high season all while providing a platform to highlight the rich multicultural diversity and Swahili heritage of the Lamu community.

Speaking to journalists in Lamu today, November 21, 2025, the governor stated that the festival has also received a lot of goodwill from tourism stakeholders chief among them the Ministry of Tourism, Magical Kenya, The Tourism Fund as well as hoteliers, flight and bus operators who have also sponsored the event.

“The Lamu Cultural Festival continues to be an important draw for tourism and we are keen on ensuring that we carry on the tradition of boosting Lamu’s profile as a safe and hospitable tourism destination both for domestic and international guests,” he said.

The governor revealed that the County government would be hosting key dignitaries from various embassies drawn from Africa, the Middle East and Europe with two opulent gala dinners set to be hosted as well.

Also speaking to journalists ahead of the culmination of the festival this week, tourism chief officer Joyce Murimi stated that the county government was also set to increase its purse sponsorships for the various events which include the signature Lamu donkey race, dhow races and fishing competition.

Lamu Tourism Association chairperson Fridah Njeri, who also spoke to the media, said that all of the available hotels are fully occupied and the flights to Lamu are full.

“The Lamu Cultural Festival, apart from being a spectacle, also presents the opportunity for Lamu businesses to thrive, due to the high influx of tourists who visit the County during this period,” she said.

The chairperson noted the festival has attracted a large number of both domestic and international tourists this year, signaling the county’s increased marketability.

On his part, Lamu Central deputy county commissioner Wilson Tangus stated that the national government has enhanced security around Lamu Island as well as along the county’s roads in a bid to ensure that the festival proceeds without any incidents.

He said that the County’s enhanced security will further aid in attracting tourists to Lamu beyond the Lamu Cultural Festival with the holiday festivities gaining momentum.