Abstract

Beach accretion and/or erosion are evident on theKenyan shoreline leading to loss of the aesthetic value of thebeaches and destruction of shoreline properties. It is moreprevalent on the Bamburi shoreline, which is about 4km long,and has been attributed to anthropogenic and natural processesthat interfere with longshore drift depriving the beaches ofsediments. Inadequate hazard assessments of the morphologicalprocesses on the beaches have made shoreline managementinterventions impracticable. Hazard vulnerability assessmentobtained from the mean beach sediment volume was used tounderstand the differential and site specific spatial vulnerabilityof beaches to erosion on the shoreline. Accretion was revealedalong Baharini challets - Private home, Whitesands-Sai rock,Papweza-Bamburi villas and Giriama beach-Jambo Reeshorelines, 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 vulnerabilitydifferences and morphological dynamics are evident along theshoreline. Spatial adaptive management strategies, including setback regulations and impact assessments, revegetation of theshoreline and simple engineered protection structures should beadopted and enforced to ensure stability of the shoreline and thebeach system.