Population
The 1989 census gave total population for the region as 2.4 million.
Most of the inhabitants belong to a group collectively known as Mijikenda,
which is composed of nine subgroups. The region has many migrants,
mainly from western, central and eastern Kenya, who were attracted by
employment opportunities in the tourism and shipping industries (Maarse et
al. 1998). The port city of Mombasa is the largest town in the region, with an
estimated population of 650 000 people (Mullins et al. 1996). Because of its
linkage with the Arabian Peninsula and India, Mombasa is a home of
Muslim, Hindu and Christian cultures.