The population consists of Swahili Muslims, mostly living in or near the town center and a sizable Christian community in the shambas or countryside that surrounds it.
Migrating fishers from the Bajun Islands to the north probably founded a temporary fishing village there before the Mazrui arrived (as they are known to have done so at many places along the coast).
[3] The village of Takaungu was established by a section of the Mazrui Families who had rebelled against the leadership of the new Sultan of Oman from the El Busaidy Dynasty.
Earlier the Mazrui Dynasty were appointed to govern Mombasa by the Sultan of Oman after he defeated the Portuguese and took over Fort Jesus in 1698.
The Mazrui Dynasty were appointed to govern Mombasa in 1741 and their closest trading partners were the largest Mijikenda tribe - The Giriama's.