[Source: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
The Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Project is a threat to key archaeological sites and monuments in Lamu County, the National Museums of Kenya has said.
The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) said that many of the archaeological sites and monuments, especially those in the mainland areas of Lamu, are on the verge of extinction due to the development at the LAPSSET site.
Speaking to the Nation on Wednesday, Coast Region Assistant Director in charge of Sites and Monuments Athman Hussein said that monitoring the archaeological sites and monuments in the region had become a challenge, many of them being in remote areas far away from Lamu Old Town.
Mr Hussein said despite efforts by NMK in and the Lamu County government to secure the sites, many people, including private developers, were still targeting the sites to undertake development.
He cited Pate ruins in Lamu East as the worst affected in the ongoing encroachment.
Mr Hussein said farming activities were also posing a challenge to the existence of ruins such as Takwa, Shanga, Manda and Siyu.
He said they had already secured little funding that would help in protecting and preserving the Lamu sites and monuments.
He, however, appealed for more funding from the government and other development partners to help fence off the vulnerable sites and monuments so as protect them from land grabbers.
[Full article: Daily Nation, by Kalume Kazungu]
