Historical report — January 2016. On the evening of 5 January 2016, then-President Uhuru Kenyatta toured Mombasa’s Old Town and public beach to inspect improvements to street lighting. The visit attracted attention because he walked through public areas and interacted with residents.
What happened during the Mombasa tour?
A report published by The Standard on 6 January 2016 confirmed that Kenyatta visited Old Town and the public beach as part of his inspection of street lighting works. The improvements were intended to increase safety and help residents, traders and visitors use public areas for longer hours.
What was Mwangaza Mtaani?
Mwangaza Mtaani was a street-lighting initiative promoted during the Kenyatta administration. The project aimed to improve public lighting in major towns and make it easier for businesses to operate into the evening, as part of the government’s proposed 24-hour economy. On 15 January 2016, President Kenyatta launched the wider national street-lighting programme in Mombasa.
The promised economic benefits
Better lighting was expected to support tourism, transport and evening trade. These were goals announced at the time; they should not be confused with independently measured outcomes. The 2016 reports document the tour and programme launch, not a guarantee that every area subsequently achieved round-the-clock business activity.
Editor’s update (October 2026): This article covers a 2016 event. Uhuru Kenyatta is described as the president at the time, not the current president. Original inline photographs have been retained.
Sources
The Standard: Kenyatta inspects Mombasa lighting (6 January 2016)
The Standard: National programme launch (16 January 2016)
