By S, KNA
The government has announced plans to safeguard heritage sites across the country from land encroachment and grabbing through a comprehensive land titling programme.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Hannah Cheptumo, said the initiative will involve collaboration between the national and county governments to preserve cultural and historical sites for future generations.
Speaking during a visit to Fort Jesus in Mombasa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century, Cheptumo said the government is committed to protecting such landmarks as part of Kenya’s historical and cultural identity.
“What we see today at Fort Jesus is a result of years of preservation. The site has become both an educational and business hub where young people showcase traditional crafts and sell artefacts to tourists,” she said.
The CS commended the French government for supporting the digitalisation of the site and called for continued community involvement in conservation efforts, including tree planting to support the national goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032. She also encouraged the promotion of Swahili food and traditions as part of cultural preservation.
“This is an important site that must be protected. We urge the county government to work with us to safeguard it. We have a duty to preserve what we found and pass it on to the next generation,” she said.
On his part, National Museums of Kenya (NMK) Board Chairperson, Mr Edwin Abonyo, said the institution has embarked on titling all its heritage sites to prevent encroachment, especially in Kilifi County, where cases have been rampant.
“These are national monuments that must be protected. While we support devolution, we must be clear that national monuments such as Fort Jesus are not devolved entities,” Abonyo stated.
He added that NMK has rolled out the National Product Industry (NPI) program in 13 counties to document and digitise Kenya’s diverse cultural practices, including traditional medicine and cuisine.
“We are building a national digital repository to preserve this knowledge for future generations,” he said.
NMK, Managing Director, Prof Mary Gikungu, thanked the CS, NMK leadership, and staff for their continued support in preserving the site’s legacy.
“We are proud that youth hubs are embracing this history and interpreting it in modern ways. It is an honour to be entrusted with the protection of our country’s national heritage,” she said.
END…/Culture/Mwangi/Ongaga
Photos and caption by Andrew Hinga/KNA
DSC_3551: Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage, Hannah Cheptumo, briefs the media on the sidelines of a tour of Fort Jesus in Mombasa on 15 October 2025.
DSC_3526 2: Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage, Hannah Cheptumo, is taken through a guided tour by National Museums officials at Fort Jesus in Mombasa on 15 October 2025.