Reason why Fort Jesus is slowly crumbling in Indian Ocean.
Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, the newly-elected director-general of the National Museums of Kenya told MPs that unless KSh 100 Million was allocated to Fort Jesus for renovation, they is no saving the resource from being swallowed up by the ocean.
Only KSh 20 Million was allocated in the budget of the financial year 2015/16 for the museum, which is a drop in the ocean, Dr Kibunjia said.
He was speaking to the public investments committee of Parliament where he said the National Museums of Kenya was crumbling under the weight of KSh 800 Million debt largely as a result of poor record keeping.
He also said that some of the donors the parastatal used to rely on to manage historical sites and fund projects have withdrawn due to financial mismanagement, Daily Nation’s Parliament writer John Ngirachu reports.
“The issues raised ranged from failure to survey and ascertain the correct value of museums land, failure to account for project funds, irregular procurement of goods and services and failure to remit statutory deductions such as pay as you earn,” Ngirachu reports.
Fort Jesus is a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
According the UN, it was built in 1593 – 1596, by the Portugeese during the war with the Arabs and was meant for protection of the port of Mombasa.
It was declared a national park in 1958.
It is one of the main tourist attraction sites in Kenya.
Such news come at a time when the country’s tourism industry has been hit hard by the insecurity situation and a weakening shilling against major international currencies.
SOURCE: TUKO.CO.KE
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