Ocean rise threatens Fort Jesus and other top Coast historic sites, says agency

Rising sea levels as a result of climate change are threatening the famous Fort Jesus and other historic sites across the Coast region, National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has warned.

Director-General Mzalendo Kibunjia said heritage sites and landmarks such as the Vasco da Gama Pillar in Malindi, Fort Jesus in Mombasa and the Old British Customs House in Vanga, all along the shoreline, face an uncertain future due to rising sea levels.

Dr Kibunjia, who spoke to the Nation in Malindi, said rising sea levels, fuelled by melting glaciers and ice caps, threaten to swallow up these landmarks.

He said the Vasco da Gama Pillar and Fort Jesus, a Unesco world heritage site, and the Old British Customs House could soon collapse because the coral foundation underneath is being threatened by strong tidal waves because of the rising sea levels.

The NMK boss said a recent study by heritage and marine experts from Unesco has warned that if things remain unchanged, then most historic and cultural sites could be swallowed up by sea water.

“The study revealed that the sites which are among Kenya’s greatest tourist attractions are also threatened by sea waves,” he said.

MORE SEVERE STORMS

He said climate change is expected to lead to more severe storms, which are likely to wash away these sites.

Dr Kibunjia, however, said NMK has developed a “rescue programme” to fortify the sites.

He said NMK, which is the state corporation that manages museums, sites and monuments will spend Sh100 million to rehabilitate Fort Jesus and a further Sh15 million to restore the Vasco da Gama Pillar to protect them from the vagaries of the weather.

“We are doing everything possible to fortify these historic and cultural edifices to ensure they are not submerged in water and are preserved for the sake of posterity,” said Dr Kibunjia.

He said Fort Jesus plays a central role in promoting tourism in the region, especially around Mombasa’s Old Town, after attaining the world heritage site status.

“It should therefore not be allowed to disappear due to erosion, rising sea levels or any other season,” Dr Kibunjia said.

He added: “We underscore the need to preserve the rich heritage assets which have been here for several centuries.

“They are major tourist attractions that have made Mombasa and Malindi important destinations in the world.”

OLDEST EUROPEAN MONUMENT

The Vasco da Gama Pillar, built in 1498 by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, is the oldest and remaining European monument in Africa and is seen as an architectural treasure.

The pillar, is a cross of Lisbon limestone with the court of arms of Portugal and continues to attract a large number of visitors especially from Germany, Portugal and Italy.

Fort Jesus, also built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596, sits on 2.36 hectares, and is one of the most outstanding and well-preserved examples of the 16th century Portuguese military fortification.

The Old British Customs House in Vanga in Kwale County is one of the remnants of the British colonial history along the East African Coast as the British constructed a great number of grand, impressive and majestic buildings housing the offices of the imperialist officials.