Recognise forgotten historic sites, Vanga residents tell county

Some Vanga residents in Kwale have petitioned the county under the leadership of Governor Fatuma Achani to diversify and improve various sources of tourism in the area. 

The residents, led by Mohammed Feruz, said Vanga island has a rich history of major world events and monuments.

He said part of the Second World War was fought in the area and Portuguese, Germans and Arabs left historical buildings like forts, mosques, tombs and administration blocks.

Feruz said, despite having all the riches, the historical and tourist attraction sites remain unrecognised.

"We have so much ancient history around this place but unfortunately nobody bothers," he said.

According to Feruz, Vanga is one of the known areas of the Kenyan coastline that carries great history.

He said it is unfortunate that places like Fort Jesus in Mombasa, Lamu and Gede in Malindi are well preserved yet there are similar monuments  found in Kwale, with Vanga and Gasi being some of them.

Feruz said the neglect of the area's history has contributed to the increased poverty and unemployment.

The majority of the residents depend on farming and fishing for livelihood. About 90 percent of them practise fishing.

Feruz said due to climate change and unfavourable rains, both fishing and farming activities have become less productive.

He said if the forgotten historical sites are well utilised, they can help create jobs and boost the region's economy.

"We cannot suffer yet the wealth is with us. If only can these monuments would be preserved for tourism purposes, residents would be empowered socio-economically," Feruz said.  

Nuru Kombo said with the utilisation of the historic sites, many will secure jobs as tour guides and business people.

She said catering and accommodation businesses will also thrive hence the growth of the town and its economy.

Kombo said Vanga is currently in deep slumber because the key stakeholders have turned away from its potential.

She said, since Vanga borders Tanzania through the sea, it has a lot of riches if its resources are sufficiently taken advantage of.

Kombo, however, decried that efforts to engage the respective authorities in reclaiming the forgotten historic sites have proved futile.

"We have so many times written letters to various government offices seeking help to develop these sites but to no avail. It's now five years," she said.

Mwinyihaji Abdhallah also asked the county to invest heavily in the agricultural sector.

He said Vanga has the capacity to produce large quantities of rice (mpunga) but because of poor planning, farming has dwindled.

Abdallah said the main river known as Umba supplying water to the region changed its course paralysing rice farming in Vanga.

"It is three years since the River Umba diverted its way to Tanzania. The only water source depended on irrigation and no farming is taking place," he said.

He said since then Vanga has experienced the heat of poverty because almost all the livelihood activities have been affected.

The residents now want the new county government to intervene and address their plight.

Early this year, Tourism executive Nasib Nyahi said the county was mapping out and revamping other historical sites to boost the tourism sector.

He said they want to furnish tourists with diversified tourism packages to reduce dependency on Diani beaches.

According to county tourism director Paul Musila, the county is at the moment transforming various tourist attraction sites and processes to develop others are ongoing.

"The construction of  Maji Moto (hot water) springs in Lunga-Lunga into a tourist attraction site is almost completed and many more will be constructed," he said.

Musila spoke at Diani in an interview in April while supervising the upgrading of Diani Beach Acces roads and construction of key facilities set to improve tourism activities.

(edited by Amol Awuor)