Why Kenya’s 400 heritage sites face extinction

400 heritage sites in the country are faced with extinction due to poor maintenance, a House Committee has been told.

The Principal Secretary of Culture, Arts and Heritage Ms Umma Bashir told the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture that lack of funds has hampered regular maintenance of the historical sites spread across the country.

As she prevailed upon the Dan Wanyama-led Committee to push for the allocation of funds for the said purpose in the Budget, the PS noted that the country risks losing its history due to the deteriorating state of the sites.

“Kenya is blessed with unique historical sites across the country which are tiring due to neglect. We request the Committee to help have funds allocated for their rehabilitation,” said Ms Bashir.

She noted that the sorry state of the historical sites has made both local and international tourists shy away hence denying the department revenue.

She added: “The few tourists who visit some of the sites have expressed their dissatisfaction with their state.”

Ms Bashir appeared before the Committee for presentation of the department’s 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).

Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Mr Mvurya attended the meeting briefly before he left for other engagements.

“To actualise the outlined policies and programmes, the department has been allocated Kshs.3,541.52 for the FY 2025/26 against its requirement of Kshs.5,982.3,” she explained.

The PS told the Committee that the allocated amount consists of Kshs.3,452.52 for recurrent expenditure and Kshs.90 million for development.

The Committee as it observed that there was a need to rehabilitate and conserve historical sites, urged the department to seek support from global donors for the good exercise too.

Suba South MP Hon Caroli Omondi told the PS to come up with a roadmap for global partnership for financial support and maintenance of the heritage sites.

“There are global partners who would be interested in supporting the conservation of the heritage sites and you need to reach out to them to supplement what the government provides for the same,” said Hon Omondi.

While responding to concerns by Busia MP Hon. Catherine Omanyo on why national heroes and heroines such as reknown broadcaster the late Mambo Mbotela were not honoured, the pa noted that the department did not have money for the same.

“We have requested for Kshs. 50 million for the establishment of the Heroes Fund to honour great citizens who put the country to fame and we ask the Committee to help get the money,” she added.

Some of the other projects that the department has requested funds for their facilitation include, construction of Wundanyi resource centre, establishment of a music studio to support artists, rehability and upgrading of Kapenguria Six site and the construction of Marachi cultural centre among others.

The PS noted that the finalization of the Kiswahili Bill and the establishment of the National Kiswahili Council have been hampered by lack of money.