Culture, Arts and Sports CS Hassan Wario has called for speedy intervention to save Lamu Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site, from western infiltration.
The CS has recommended the introduction of strict rules that will enable the preservation of Lamu Old Town, listed as a heritage site in 2001.
He spoke in Lamu town during the closing ceremony of the just-concluded Lamu cultural festival on Sunday. Wario said his office is concerned that Old Town risks losing its heritage if measures aren’t taken to preserve it.
He said there is increased westernisation in the town, something he said should not be the case for an area listed as a heritage site. The CS cited the increased western architecture, kiosks along the seafront and businesses as unfriendly to the existence of Old Town.
Worse off is the increased number of automobiles that include vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles operating within the Lamu Island.
Wario said the presence of automobiles destroys the very purpose for which the town was listed in the first place. He added that his office would draft regulations to preserve the town.
“This is a Unesco world heritage site and that means it should depict the same. However, what I am seeing isn’t impressive at all,” Wario said. Wario said he would hold talks with the county and national governments to strike out all factors endangering the town.
“Lamu Old Town risks being delisted by Unesco and we don’t want that to happen. All these automobiles must leave. People must live knowing they are on a heritage site,” he said.
The Deputy Director at the National Museums of Kenya, Coast, Athman Hussein, said the town is at risk of losing its status due to too much infiltration from western culture.
Speaking in his office on Tuesday, Hussein said the increased use of western dress codes among residents and visitors coming to the town also hinders preservation of the town’s culture. He said the NMK is willing to partner with other players to ensure Old Town retains its stature.
Hussein said for decades, the unique culture and heritage of the Lamu people has been the greatest tourist attraction. He said there is a need for all to ensure the situation gets better by preserving the town.
“Lamu is an old town and a heritage site has rules it must adhere to. So far there are too many contraventions to the rules and those required to ensure the town is preserved seem to be asleep on the job,” Hussein said.