The National Museums of Kenya has raised the alarm over theft of priceless historical artefacts from Lamu museum.
Unknown people have been taking advantage of the lack of surveillance over the premises.
Among items stolen include a mini canon obtained from the ancient Witu Sultanate at the inception of the museum and had been stationed just outside the premises.
The NMK Assistant Director of Antiquities, Sites, and Monuments in charge of the Coast region Athman Hussein said there were three canons but only two are now left.
He said efforts to locate the canon have been futile and the fact that the museum does not have surveillance cameras meant they were unable to identify the thief.
“It was small and portable and that obviously made it easy for someone to carry it away. We have not been able to recover it,” he said.
An ancient rhino horn was also stolen from the museum and is believed to have been sold to the Chinese at the Lapsset area.
Hussein said the facility had two such horns and efforts to recover the stolen one have been futile as it seemed to have been sold and smuggled out of the country.
“We suspect the Chinese working on the Lapsset might have bought it. It might have gone over there because there’s so many of them and we all know how lucrative rhino horns are on the Chinese market.”
He said apart from that, the museum has lost other artefacts which remain untraced due to the lack of proper security features.
“The ancient design of the museum didn’t really pay much attention to security because we assumed people wouldn’t steal from a museum but it’s obvious that we are living in different times and we need to effect changes,” he said.
The museum is currently undergoing an intensive first ever makeover since its inception in 1971 which will see the facility fitted with modern surveillance equipment and cameras to deter further loss and theft of historical artefacts.
Hussein said they are focusing on security features, adding that the Lamu facility will be the first museum in Kenya with most cameras for surveillance and advanced security features.
“For instance in the previous design, most items on display were exposed but the makeover will ensure they are highly secured and out of reach. The rhino horn for instance was actually hanged on the wall making it easy to be stolen,” Hussein said.
He said security features will apply to all museums at the Coast as the challenges have become regional.
Hussein said most of the artefacts in the museums are priceless and highly sought after making them easy targets for thieves and illegal dealers.
“People are aware of the worth of some of the artefacts in our museums and will do anything to get them and we need to stop that,” he said.
Hussein said as a measure of security, all original artefacts are kept at a secure facility in Nairobi while the museum showcases casts but said they will all be brought back once the museum has been rehabilitated.
“In the meantime, we keep originals in Nairobi. All we have here is casts until all security measures are in place, we can’t risk losing more because most are just single and we can’t replace if they are lost. The Nairobi facility is safe and atomic bomb proof and has surveillance,” he added.
Edited by SKanyara
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