Introduction: Heat, Tourism, and Women on Kenya’s Coast
The Kenyan coast is famed for its sun-kissed beaches, vibrant markets, and welcoming communities. Yet, rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns driven by climate change are altering the rhythms of coastal tourism—and the lives of the women who make a living from it. In Kilifi and other seaside towns, female workers—from guide and vendor roles to small-scale hospitality jobs—are navigating harsher heat, unpredictable rain, and longer droughts that affect when customers arrive and how much they can earn.
Direct Impacts: Heat, Health, and Livelihoods
When daytime temperatures routinely climb past 35°C, outdoor work becomes a test of endurance. Markets, boat rides, dhow sails, and street-side eateries depend on calm, sunny days and steady crowds. But extreme heat can shorten business hours, reduce the number of visitors during peak season, and strain the energy of workers who must rise early or work late to maximize takings. Women, who often juggle multiple roles—seller, caregiver, and community organizer—bear a disproportionate share of these stressors. Heat-related fatigue, dehydration, and skin conditions are common concerns, sometimes forcing women to skip shifts or seek less-productive work.
Health and Safety on the Frontline
Access to clean water, shade, and protective gear can mitigate harm, but these resources are not guaranteed in busy market zones and informal tourism sites. Local health campaigns and non-governmental programs have begun to address heat exposure, but gaps remain. For many women, risky weather = riskier earnings, making it harder to invest in child care, education, or savings for lean months.
Where Adaptation Is Happening
Communities are responding in practical ways that reflect local realities. Simple measures—mobile water stations, shaded rest areas near popular markets, and schedule adjustments to avoid peak afternoon heat—help women sustain daily earnings. Some women-led cooperatives are training members in basic weather risk assessment, safe handling of tourists, and alternative income streams such as handicrafts or guided nature walks during milder seasons. Local authorities and NGOs are increasingly coordinating with tourism associations to prioritize gender-responsive climate resilience, ensuring that female workers have a seat at the planning table.
Gender Dimensions: Why Women Are Central to Climate Resilience
Women are often the first to adapt to changing conditions, given their central role in managing households and community well-being. In the coastal economy, women’s collective action can accelerate access to microfinance, training, and safer work environments. However, barriers persist: limited land tenure clarity, unequal access to credit, and caregiving pressures can limit women’s ability to invest in adaptive strategies. Empowering women with decision-making power, financial tools, and targeted climate education strengthens not just individual livelihoods, but the resilience of entire coastal communities.
Policy and Community Action: What’s Needed
Effective responses require a blend of local ingenuity and supportive policy. Practical steps include:
– Expanding shade and hydration facilities at market sites and harborfronts
– Providing affordable protective clothing and sun safety education
– Supporting women-led tourism enterprises with microloans and business training
– Integrating climate risk into tourism planning, including emergency response and disaster drills
– Ensuring that climate adaptation funding reaches informal workers who are often overlooked in formal budgeting
Success Stories and Hope on the Ground
Across Kilifi and nearby destinations, women in coastal tourism are charting new paths, from cooperative marketing to alternative route itineraries that emphasize cultural and ecological experiences during cooler periods. These efforts show that climate resilience is not merely about surviving harsher weather; it’s about building a more inclusive, sustainable tourism sector where women lead the way toward better earnings, safer work environments, and brighter futures for families and communities.
Conclusion: Building Resilience Through Collective Action
Climate change is reshaping how coastal tourism operates in Kenya, but it also reveals opportunities for gender-led leadership and sustainable growth. By investing in women’s skills, health, and financial autonomy, Kilifi and the Kenyan coast can transform climate shocks into lasting economic and social gains for communities that depend on tourism’s warmth and hospitality.
