The County Assembly of Murang’a has called for proper preservation and upgrade of local heritage and cultural centres so as to attract tourists.
In a report tabled in the House, the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) observed that most cultural and heritage sites have porous fences and there is no clear stakeholder involvement in the protection and preservation of these sites.
Tabling the report on revival/upgrade of tourist attraction sites and cultural centres in Murang’a County, the Assembly’s Chairperson for the Committee of Trade, Tourism, and Wildlife, James Karanja Kabera, said the county has so much to offer for general sustainable tourism and excursion activities, and their upgrade can lead to bolstering of social economic growth courtesy of tourism.
“Muranga’s close proximity to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and road network makes the county a potential premier destination,” said Kabera, adding that besides helping the local economy grow, the sites also affect the environment and culture.
The MCAs observed that there is disregard for the economic and social potential that the tourism sector has in transforming the lives of those who give it priority.
“Intruders and vandals can easily access the sites to destroy and steal the fencing and stalled building materials and carry out anti-social activities, among other things,” said Kabera, who is also MCA Kamahuha ward.
Kabare said most of the cultural sites are under the management of private entities and therefore lack public-private sector partnerships to caution misuse or abuse of the existing cultural and tourist attraction sites.
“Our key tourism products are not developed for consumption. They are deplorable, and so are their accessibility,” he said, adding that this is as a result of continuous limited budget allocation and lack of relevant legislation to support and promote tourism’s development.
He said the report recommended the county, in conjunction with stakeholders, should prioritise gazettement on all the cultural and tourist attraction sites as it forms the baseline for resource mobilisation and ensures protection from encroachment.
“Although the tourism sub-sector has identified and mapped six heritage and cultural centres, only three of them have been gazzetted,” said Kabera, adding that the three are Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, Karuri wa Gakure, and Wangu wa Makeri homestead.
He said the report recommended gazettement of Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga, Fort Hall Residence, Wangu wa Makeri homestead, Paramount Chief Karuri wa Gakure homestead, Tuthu Religious Shrine, and Mau Mau caves.
He further said the report recommended the county to facilitate and provide appropriate incentives for private sector, SMEs, and resident investment in the county tourism sector.
Moses Muchiri, while seconding the motion, said that the county government should strengthen the department of tourism development and its institutions charged with research, marketing, promotion, and regulation of tourism.
Muchiri said the county government, through relevant departments, should undertake mapping and inventory of all county tourism products, attractions, and facilities.
“Preservation of our cultural sites will boost our economic growth, environmental sustainability, and preserve our country’s cultural heritage,” said Muchiri, who is MCA Muguru Ward.
MCA Kahumbo, Chef Man Njoroge, while supporting the motion, highlighted the need to generate revenue through the heritage and cultural sites.
He said multimedia channel campaigns and the implementation of aggressive marketing strategies across platforms, including social media like Facebook, websites, and traditional media, would be used to market the sites.
Other MCAs who supported the motion are Steven Kimani (Kakuzi/Mitubiri ward) and Edwin Wairagu (Gitugi ward).
By Anita Omwenga
