Murang’a assembly wants the county government to partner with National Museums of Kenya (NMK) to safeguard local heritage sites.
In a report tabled before the county assembly on Thursday, the Assembly’s Committee for Trade, Tourism and Wildlife management, MCAs observed that the county has several sites which are underutilized.
The Committee recently visited the National Museums of Kenya to study on how to tap tourism sites, raise revenue collection and integrate eco-tourism in Murang’a County.
Tabling the report before the House, nominated MCA Stephen Chege noted that the county government should consider signing a memorandum of understanding with NMK about the conservation and management of heritage sites within Murang’a.
Chege, reading the recommendations observed that the devolved unit should engage the Museums in rehabilitating Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga cultural site.
Rehabilitation of the cultural site, the MCA noted, will provide a platform for doing exhibitions to promote local tourism as well as enable the county government generate more revenue.
The cultural centre believed by local residents to be the origin of Agikuyu community has remained neglected with few activities being done there.
“In this report, as an Assembly we request the National Museum to hasten the process of gazetting the proposed heritage sites within the county. This will give us opportunity to conserve and manage them in an effort to spur tourism in the county,” added the nominated MCA.
The report further recommended that the county administration through the department of education should involve museums and conduct educational programmes for primary and secondary students on heritage, biodiversity research and conservation.
“In this report we compel the county executive to provide land where the National Museums can put up a botanical garden for recreation and educational site to visitors and young generation,” he added.
The committee also advocated for the local community to be involved in coordinating annual cultural festivals and events for economic development and cultural tourism.
Other sites within the county which need to be gazetted and conserved include the house of colonial era chief Wangu wa Makeri, Mau Mau detention camps at Mariira area in Kigumo, the first missionary church in Ruchu among other sites.
By conserving and proper management of the heritage sites, the MCAs noted that the County will boost local tourism and increase revenue collection.
By Bernard Munyao and Carolyne Karanja
