The Governor for Mombasa County Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir is elated after the coastal city was ranked among the top 30 cleanest and most attractive cities in Africa in 2025.
According to a survey carried out in October 2025 by The Africa Report in partnership with Sagaci Research, Mombasa came in at number 18.
The survey involved 7,877 respondents in 41 cities across the continent and saw Rwanda’s Kigali clinch the number one position again after it led the ranking in 2024.
In a statement, Governor Nassir expressed his pride in the city’s ranking, citing collective efforts as responsible for the outcome.
“This is a proud moment for our county. This recognition is the result of commitment, consistency, and the collective drive to do better every day. It affirms that when government and residents work together, real transformation is possible,” he commented.
He added that his administration will continue to enhance its waste management processes to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation in the county.
“We are not slowing down. As we upscale our waste management efforts, our focus remains clear: a cleaner, healthier Mombasa where every resident lives with dignity,” he stated.
After Kigali, Rabat in Morocco came in at number two, similar to its last year’s ranking. The third position was taken by Cotonou in Benin.
Leading African cities in cleanliness
According to The Africa Report’s research, cities in positions four to ten are as follows: Tangier, Marrakech, Abuja, Addis Ababa, Gaborone, Capetown, and Casablanca respectively.
Kenya’s capital city Nairobi took position 20, a drop from its 2024’s position 15. On the other hand, Dar es Salam in Tanzania was 19th and Uganda’s Kampala 27th on the ranking.
Other locations on the list of the 30 cleanest African cities include Lagos, Cairo, Maputo, Accra, Tunis, and Harare.
How was the survey conducted?
The research had a far larger number of respondents 7,877 in 2025 and 1,918 in 2024.
Additionally, Tangier, Marrakech, Pretoria, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam were among the new cities added to the survey and the profile of the respondents also changed.
“Previously, the panel was mainly made up of readers of the Africa Report and our sister magazine Jeune Afrique. This year, it is primarily composed of permanent residents of the cities surveyed following the participation our partner Sagaci Research,” Africa Report explained in a statement.
Mombasa is a major city in the East African region, providing access to the Indian Ocean for shipping services, tourism, and marine life, among other benefits.
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