Mombasa County is Kenya’s second-most economically significant county after Nairobi, operating a three-tier administrative system comprising six sub-counties, 30 wards, and multiple chief’s locations. The county itself covers 219.9 km² land area and 65 km² water mass and has a population of 1.2 million residents.
Mombasa’s governance follows a strict hierarchy: County Government → Sub-County Administrators → Ward Administrators → Chief’s Offices. The sub-county HQs implement county policies and manage health facilities, roads, and revenue collection. On the other hand, Ward offices focus on localized services: issuing birth/death certificates, resolving land disputes, and coordinating youth programs. Chiefs enforce national laws, mediate conflicts, and document community events. Lastly, the County Assembly (situated in Mvita Sub-County) legislates on devolved functions like transport and public works.