Beach Erosion Hazard Vulnerability Assessment of Bamburi Beach in Mombasa, Kenya

Abstract

Beach accretion and/or erosion are evident on the Kenyan shoreline leading to loss of the aesthetic value of the beaches and destruction of shoreline properties. It is more prevalent on the Bamburi shoreline, which is about 4km long, and has been attributed to anthropogenic and natural processes that interfere with longshore drift depriving the beaches of sediments. Inadequate hazard assessments of the morphological processes on the beaches have made shoreline management interventions impracticable. Hazard vulnerability assessment obtained from the mean beach sediment volume was used to understand the differential and site specific spatial vulnerability of beaches to erosion on the shoreline. Accretion was revealed along Baharini challets - Private home, Whitesands-Sai rock, Papweza-Bamburi villas and Giriama beach-Jambo Ree shorelines, while erosion was experienced at Private home – Severine beach, Severine beach – Whitesands beach, Sai rock - Papweza, Bamburi villas – Kenyatta beach and Kenyatta beach - Giriama beach shorelines. Site specific vulnerability differences and morphological dynamics are evident along the shoreline. Spatial adaptive management strategies, including set back regulations and impact assessments, revegetation of the shoreline and simple engineered protection structures should be adopted and enforced to ensure stability of the shoreline and the beach system.