Inside Kenya's Unique Town With No Bank, Church, Bar, or Guesthouse

Vanga, an exceptional town in Kenya stands out amongst many others due to its distinctive qualities and way of life.

Vanga, Kenya's southernmost municipality on the lively Indian Ocean shore, seems to bespeak a world without facilities most metropolitan travellers might take for granted. The town has managed to hold on to its traditional society and the peace it brings, keeping up resilience in the modern age. This piece explores the enigma of Vanga- secluded from the Western influence of banks, churches, bars, and guest houses.

Vanga is a compact township, with roughly 10,000 inhabitants mostly inclined in the Islamic faith and united in tight-knit communities. Being a fishing hub, most residents earn a living by catching fish. This livelihood comes with the challenge of handling revenue without banking systems. Vanga lacks this amenity, and the locals must travel to nearby towns to access banks because without such mobility they would be isolated from the important financial services they need.

Vanga’s absence of a church can be attributed to its predominantly Muslim population. Unlike other towns which now boast churches, bars, guest houses, and lodgings, Vanga chooses to uphold its customs and beliefs. As modernity holds sway, the non-conformist fishing port remains steeped in tradition, staunchly maintaining its distinctiveness without establishments that define “normalcy”.

The town has a reluctance toward accommodation, which originates from a view that it triggers wanton behaviour. Streetlamps are nowhere to be seen, but the tight-knit protection of the populace generates a sense of security via the watchful eyes of the community members. According to an article from the Nation, drug abuse has led to criminal activities amongst a mere five residents of this town.