Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism has announced plans to privatise five beaches and four islands in a bid to attract high-end investment and reposition the country as a premium coastal destination.
According to the draft National Tourism Strategy 2025-2030, the targeted islands are Chale, Funzi, Kiwayu and Manda while the beaches identified for potential privatisation are Takaungu, Msambweni, Vipingo, Kipungani and Matondoni.
Repositioning Kenya’s beach offering
Under the proposal, these sites will be placed under various privatisation models including private ownership, concessions or long-term leasing agreements to encourage the development of upscale tourism facilities such as luxury beach clubs, boutique hotels, helipads, golf resorts and private marine access points for yachts and diving.
Vipingo is earmarked for a golf resort, Msambweni for luxury wellness and spa facilities while Kiwayu Island could host an eco-lodge offering sport fishing and diving experiences. Funzi Island is expected to see “barefoot luxury” lodges and marine eco-tourism ventures.
The ministry has stated that environmental safeguards, sustainability commitments and employment quotas will be part of the investment requirements.
Coastal tourism framework
In addition to privatisation, the ministry plans to roll out a special beach classification framework to segment Kenya’s coastline for diverse visitor experiences. The categories will include premium, family, leisure, eco-tourism, cultural, adventure and sports beaches.
Modelled after the Kenya Wildlife Service’s National Park Categorisation Framework, the classification will guide marketing, investment and management of each beach type.
“Clear standards, branding, marketing strategies and focused management programmes will be implemented for each beach category,” the ministry said.
Public response
The announcement has reignited debate about public access and ownership of natural resources, particularly along Kenya’s coastline where disputes between investors and local communities have surfaced in the past.
Sustainable Travel and Tourism Agenda Founder Judy Kepher-Gona said, while private investment can help improve infrastructure and attract niche tourism markets, the use of the term “privatisation” risks reviving painful memories of exclusionary tourism models.
“Some clauses use the term ‘privatisation’ in ways that risk reopening old wounds in our sector,” she said. “It risks producing exclusive tourism enclaves: spaces separated from the people who live in, care for and shape those places.”
Kepher-Gona warns that, if poorly implemented, such a model could lead to short-term profits for a few investors at the expense of long-term community stewardship, equitable livelihoods and environmental balance. She advocates for co-design and co-management approaches that empower local communities as custodians of their land and natural heritage.
“Tourism that is co-created with custodians of place leads to ownership, strengthened stewardship and greater resilience,” she added. “When communities shape the rules and share the benefits, tourism becomes a force for thriving people and thriving nature.”
Coast Tourism Association Chairman Victor Shitaka believes the debate should focus on legality and governance rather than ideology. “The misconception is that tourism is fully devolved,” he said. “While counties handle local attractions and licensing, strategic assets like islands and coastal zones fall under national oversight.”
Shitaka argues that privatisation, if conducted within the law, could create jobs and attract quality investors but it must be anchored in transparent legal frameworks and strong environmental regulation. “Privatisation can boost local economies through employment and infrastructure but it must come with clear safeguards and accountability,” he said.
Tourism and hospitality expert Steven Ododah, who has spent over 17 years pre-opening luxury resorts across Africa, views the plan as visionary and risky.
“On paper, it sounds like a bold move to put Kenya on the map as a premium destination,” he said. “But what about the people who call these places home?”
Ododah argues that the plan must consider the social fabric and local economies tied to these beaches and islands. “This is about more than hotels and lodges,” he said. “It’s about fishermen, small business owners and families whose livelihoods and culture are intertwined with the coast. Once a beach becomes a private enclave, who decides who gets access and who doesn’t? Privatising a beach isn’t just a business decision; it’s a social and ethical one. Development must be inclusive, regenerative and sustainable not just profit-driven.”
