Fort Jesus: A place to visit when you are in Mombasa

"There are torture rooms and prison cells inside the Fort where slaves were kept before they were sold or exchanged with other commodities"

Built in 1593 by the Portuguese and designed by the Italian architect, Cairati in the 16th century, Fort Jesus is considered one of the popular tourist attractions in Kenya to visit. Located along the coastline of the Indian Ocean near Old Town, the Fort became the center of a struggle for the control of the coast between the Shiraz Arabs and the Portuguese army.

It is said the fort changed ownership about nine times between 1631 and 1875 before the British took it over. So, why should you visit the fort? There are numerous reasons. First, there is a museum inside the Fort that showcases many artifacts from the time when Mombasa acted as a transition point for the slave trade.

Second, there are torture rooms and prison cells inside the Fort where slaves were kept before they were sold or exchanged with other commodities. Third, there are defensive weapons, such as cannons and arsenals that were used to defend the Fort from invaders. Fourth, there is a ruined Omani house that was built in the late 18th-century housing Oman jewelry.

The Fort opens its doors for touring in the morning till evening. For those tourists who do not understand English, there are local tour guides who are fluent in other languages, such as Portuguese, French, and German.

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