OUR STORY

Caritas Mombasa is a member of the Caritas global family whose core activities mainly focus on
humanitarian and development assistance. The Caritas Mombasa office operates within the juris-
diction of the Catholic Arch-diocese of Mombasa covering Kenya’s coastal Counties of Kilifi, Taita
Taveta, Mombasa and Kwale with about 3 million people (2,983,693 according to 2009 National
Population and Housing Census: Kilifi 1,109,735, Taita-Taveta 284,657, Mombasa 939,370 and
Kwale 649,931). About 55% of the coastal population is Christian and the remaining 45% com-
prise mainly of Muslims, Hindus and other believers including African Traditional Faith. There are
52 parishes, 114 priests (diocesan 82, religious 32) 510 religious Sisters, 14 religious, Brothers,
and an estimated 300,000 lay Catholics.

Background

The main economic activities of the coastal region are fishing, tourism, subsistence agriculture

and commercial trading activities. The region is home to the main East African seaport, Kenya

Ports Authority and many tourist hotels. Mombasa is the second largest capital city of Kenya

and is connected to the external world by Moi International Airport managed by Kenya Airports

Authority.

The majority of the rural population suffers from the effects of poverty, illiteracy, food insecurity,

high mortality and perennial disasters caused by adverse weather patterns including floods and

drought. The urban population is affected mainly by joblessness, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, gender

parity, radicalization of the youth, and religious intolerance.

Caritas Mombasa is known for charitable activities which respond to community distress calls

and needs focusing on: Livelihoods; Human Rights and Advocacy, Justice and Peace, Gover-

nance, Drought Recovery, Water and Sanitation; Child Protection (Rescue Centre, Solidarity with

Girls In Distress –SOLGIDI, OVC, School Programs Sponsorship, HBC project). These activities

are executed as part of the Annual Calendar of Events through the support of a network of

partners including the Government of Kenya, Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Germany, Caritas

Italiana, Caritas Ambrosiana, Caritas Cremona, Caritas Kenya, the local Church, Dioceses abroad,

CAFOD, Misereor, USAID and DANIDA.

Due to the competing humanitarian and development needs of coastal communities on one

hand and the dwindling financial resources on the other, it has become necessary for Caritas

Mombasa to review its operations and prioritize future interventions on a strategic plan model.