The national government has pledged to continue supporting Lamu County’s festival calendar in a bid to ensure that the sector continues creating jobs among women and youths within the coastal county
The 23rd Edition of the Lamu Cultural Festival that is running from Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd 2025 with the expectation that the festival will draw in 20,000 domestic and foreign tourists.
Setting the tone to the three-day cultural extravaganza, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca MIano stated that the national government will continue marketing Lamu as a favorable tourist destination especially with the upcoming festive season underway.
Miano further lauded the county government for keeping pace in hosting the annual festival in a bid to ensure that entrepreneurship and tourism receive a welcome boost even as the high tourist season kicks off.
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 as 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.
Tourism and Trade Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan Abubakar who also graced the even in his remarks stated that that the festival has also received a lot of goodwill from other sectors especially from the trade and tourism sectors chief among them the Ministry of Tourism, Magical Kenya, The Tourism Fund as well as hoteliers,The Lamu Chamber of Commerce, 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,” Abubakar said.
He further revealed that the national government was keen on ensuring that peace and security prevails in a bid to ensure that the county’s tourism and festival calendar remains uninterrupted.
Also speaking to journalists ahead of the culmination of the festival this week, Tourism Chief Officer Joyce Murimi stated that the county government is 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 Chairman, 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,” Njeri said.
She further 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 further 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.
