Lamu Museum to be renovated for Sh20m
The Lamu Museum is to undergo major renovations that will cost Sh20 million.
The Lamu Museum is to undergo major renovations that will cost Sh20 million.
The five-month work will be done by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) with funding from the embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Nairobi.
The museum has not been renovated since it was established in 1970, said curator Ali Mwenje.
The work involves replacing the corrugated iron-sheet roof, removing sections of the dilapidated plaster walls and reconstructing new ones.
Exhibitions of archeological artefacts are also poorly arranged and displayed and will be improved and clearly labelled so that visitors can see, identify and understand them.
Once refurbished, Mr Mwenje said, the museum will better educate visitors about Swahili traditions through collections such as clothing, domestic utilities and furniture.
He said NMK will continue to cooperate with the Oman government to enhance the cultural ties that have existed for centuries between the two states.
National Museums of Kenya curator in charge of Lamu Museum and Lamu World Heritage site Mohamed Ali Mwenje.
“This is part of the efforts to expound on the Oman presence in East Africa, which has existed for over five centuries now. This particular collaboration has provided new opportunities for collaboration in trying to improve on the exhibition as well as the presentation of the building, which is a key tourist attraction to this place.”
One of the challenges the museum building has faced over the years is erosion as it is located on the waterfront, exposing it to humidity, strong winds, direct sunlight, and salinity from the Indian Ocean.
“In fact, once in a while, the building suffers from flooding with the ocean water. All these factors and many more have influenced the ongoing refurbishment,” he said.
A section of the Lamu Museum which has been demolished and is ready for renovation.
Exhibition officer and historian Hassan Ali said the rehabilitation is on time.
Mr Ali thanked the Oman Embassy for prioritising the restoration of Lamu historical buildings.
The gesture, he added, will solidify the decades-long relationship between Lamu, the East African Coast and Oman.
The relations between Oman and Kenya date back to the 17th century when Mombasa and other coastal cities were occupied by the Sultanate of Oman.
Traces of the architecture and culture of Oman are still evident in Mombasa, Lamu and other coastal cities.
Some residents also trace their ancestry to Oman.
“In fact, we are planning to have a gallery section inside the facility specifically for Omani showcases once the ongoing renovation works are over,” said Mr Ali.
The Lamu Museum contains the largest and best collection of authentic Swahili archaeological materials on the East Africa Coast.
“If you really want to have an understanding of the Swahili people, then the best place to visit is the Lamu Museum,” said Mr Ali.
