Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya. It is located on Kenya’s Eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean. Its original Arabic name is Mombasa and it is called “Kisiwa Cha Mvita” in Swahili which means “Island of War” due to its many changes in ownership.

The history of the city has a mixture of African, Persian, Arab, Portuguese and British whose influences contributed to the rich cultures found in the city today. The Historical site Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese before their defeat in 1697.

The Fort was subject to an epic two-year siege from 1696-98 by the Omani Arabs, led by Saif bin Sultan. The capture of the fort marked the end of Portuguese presence on the coast, although they briefly captured and re-occupied it between 1728 and 1729 with the help of the Swahili city-states

Two years later, the British warship HMS Leven arrived in Mombasa and the city was declared a British protectorate after the appeal by the Mazruis to Commander Captain Owen. In return, they made a promise that the Mazruis would abolish slavery. It was the springboard for the colonization of Kenya and the beginning of British dominance in the country until independence in 1963. Remnants of slave trade can still be seen today around Mombasa city. Fort Jesus still contains cells where the slaves were held and various artifacts from that era.