Historic Monuments in Kilifi
Shimo la Tewa: A Heritage of Reinforcement
Beyond Bamburi, as you leave the busy suburbia on the mainland, North-Coast bound, the traffic gets lighter, the noise lesser and the air cleaner, mingled with a touch of rural. 6 km north of Bamburi, the hither and thither of city feels distant, and the drive is less feverish. Just before crossing Mtwapa Bridge, marking the border between Mombasa and Kilifi counties, you pass through Shimo la Tewa, widely-known for its prison – impressive for its history rather than the site itself.
Its exterior monastic facade gives away very little of its forbidding past. For many years, it retained a bright mono-colour, fading to a grayscale, along the perimeter wall fronting the B8 Road. But the single hue did not liven its reputation. Quite the opposite, the wall was symbolic of a ruthless finality that could not have been achieved by any other form, to overcome many obstacles through suppression and suffering. Avowers insist the punishment behind this wall do not always fit the crime. Veritably, Shimo la Tewa translates as ‘Hell Hole or Hole in the Ground’.
The origins and purpose of Shimo la Tewa prison go way back to the 14th Century, although the more modern structure are from the colonial era. It was founded by the Omani Arabs. Their ideal export was slaves. To smoothly run their operations, they established slave hubs that included, at Mtwapa, Jumba la Mtwana or ‘the large house of slaves’. Sited across from Mtwapa Creek, Shimo la Tewa became a holding ground for slaves on transit to Jumba la Mtwana. It’s been claimed that nearly 8 million African slaves were shipped to foreign lands during this period.
Later, it became a holding den for pirates who were unlucky to get captured off Kenyan waters. During the British era, its key use was as a maximum prison for the hardened felons. A legacy it has pursued up until now. While Shimo la Tewa itself is not a tourist destination, its proximity to Mombasa and other attractions in the coastal region makes it accessible to travelers interested in exploring the area’s history and culture. It holds historical significance as a site associated with Kenya’s struggle for independence, as an infamous hellish place for the unlucky.
Today, Shimo la Tewa prison remains an active facility under the jurisdiction of the Kenya Prisons Service. It continues to house inmates serving various sentences, and efforts have been made to improve conditions within the prison, while also focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration programs for inmates. Beyond its infamous association with the prison, Shimo la Tewa is also a rustic locality with residential areas and communities surrounding it. The area is part of the larger Kilifi County, contributing to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the region.
Touring Kilifi County offers a delightful blend of coastal beauty, lovely beaches, cultural richness, natural wonders, and fascinating ancient ruins. Whether you’re seeking pristine beaches, historical sites, or vibrant cultural experiences – or a combination, Kilifi promises a memorable and enriching travel experience.
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Explore Destinations Near Shimo la Tewa Prison
A Guide to Kilifi County
A Summa Digest of Kilifi
About Kilifi Way Back When
95 Destinations in Kilifi County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Shimo la Tewa Prison, Mtwapa Creek, Mtwapa Ruins, The Moorings, La Marina Restaurant, Jumba la Mtwana, Kikambala Beach, Vipingo Mosque Ruins, Kinuni Ruins, Kuruwitu Conservancy, Neem Tree House, Vipingo Ridge, Chasimba Cave, Kilifi Sisal Plantations, Vuma Cliffs, Old Town Takaungu, Takaungu Creek, Kitoka Ruins, Takaungu House, Beneath the Baobab Festival, Kilifi Creek, Kilifi Bridge, Kilifi Boatyard, Distant Relatives Lodge, Mnarani Ruins, Mnarani Snake Park, 3 Degrees South, Kamili House, Mazingira Park, Bofa Beach, Saltys Kitesurfing Bar & Restaurant, Bush Baby Kilifi, Casa Dalton, Panga ya Saidi Cave, River Rare Geo Park, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Mwangea Hills Forest, Watamu Marine National Park, Uyombo Ruins, Rock & Sea Resort, Mida Creek, Sudi Island, Kirepwe Ruins, Watamu Beach, Ocean Sports Watamu, Medina Palms, Hemimways Watamu, A Rocha Eco Lodge & Conservation Centre, Watamu Treehouse, Garoda Beach, Tribe Watersports, Kite House, Local Ocean Conservation, Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Kiburugeni Ruins, Mgangani Ruins, Mida Creek Nature Camp, Gede Ruins, Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, Malindi Museum, Henry the Navigator Monument, Malindi Pier, Malindi Pillar Tomb, Malindi Waterfront Park, Portuguese Chapel, Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Beach, Ndoro Sculpture Garden, White Elephant Sea & Art Lodge, Malindi Crocodile & Snake Farm, Malindi Marine National Park, Malaika Beach Sunbeds & Restaurant, Sawa Sawa Dhow Excursions, Lo Sfizio Coffee Shop, Lennox Art Gallery, Falconry of Kenya, Hanging Gardens, Malindi Golf & Country Club, River Sabaki Delta, Marafa Depression, Dakacha Woodland, Mekatilili wa Menza Site, Mambrui Dunes, Mambrui, Mambrui Tombs, Kibirakani Ruins, Che Shale Hotel Kitesurf Center, Ngomeni Shipwreck, Luigi Broglio Space Centre, The Nyika Plateau, Galana Conservancy, Ngala Mausoleum, Rabai Museum, Kaya Kambe Shrine, Thomas Wakefield Memorial Church
Know More About Kilifi County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.05?
Kilifi can be split into three zones – the narrow coastal plain, varying in width from 3 kms to 20 km; few coastal hills lying below 30 ms asl, and the Nyika Plateau rising from 100ms to 340 ms asl.
What’s The Air Like In Kilifi?
For the greater part of the year, the climate along the coastal plain is pleasurable, though humid. Temperature ranges between 21C and 30C along the coast, and between 30C and 34C further inland.
