Underwater museum to open in 2016
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo. He said the underwater museum would help diversify the local tourism sector and make the residents learn to appreciate the importance of education. The first ever museum of its kinds in Africa will be opened at Ngomeni Village in Kilifi in the next two years. PHOTO/FILE
What you need to know:
- The National Museums of Kenya made the disclosure yesterday as excavation works on a ship wreck believed to be over 600 years continued.
- NMK’s head of underwater archaeology Caesar Bita said the site and the surrounding areas would be developed, with a display of the ship wreck model and its photographs.
- Besides tourism, Mr Bita said, the local community would benefit from scholarship opportunities in underwater archaeology.
The first ever underwater museum in Africa will be opened at Ngomeni Village in Kilifi in the next two years.
The National Museums of Kenya made the disclosure yesterday as excavation works on a ship wreck believed to be over 600 years continued.
The five-year research by Kenyan and Chinese underwater archaeologists has been going on for the last three years.
The aim of the research is to establish business links between the Far East and East Africa at the Ngomeni ship wreck, located 150 kilometres north of Mombasa.
NMK’s head of underwater archaeology Caesar Bita said the site and the surrounding areas would be developed, with a display of the ship wreck model and its photographs.
The scenery would pull in tourists and help the county generate revenue, he said.
Besides tourism, Mr Bita said, the local community would benefit from scholarship opportunities in underwater archaeology.
“Underwater museum can be used for research by locals and foreigners pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes in universities.
A fee can be charged and this will be revenue to the county,” he said.
Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo said the venture would help diversify the local tourism sector and make the residents learn to appreciate the importance of education.
