Article

Kenya national authorities focus on protecting underwater cultural heritage

Kenyan underwater cultural heritage specialist, Dr. Cesar Bita, documenting a shipwreck off the coast of Kenya ©Cesar Bita/National Museums of Kenya

26 February 2021

Last update:20 April 2023

The Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with the Kenya Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, convened a sensitization and consultative meeting to encourage ratification of the on 11 and 12 February 2021 in Naivasha, Kenya. The meeting attracted participation from key policymakers and stakeholders of the underwater cultural heritage, including representatives from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, National Museums of Kenya, members of the parliamentary committee for culture and independent experts.

During the Kenyan high-level workshop, Ms. Ulrike Guerin, from the UNESCO Secretariat of the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, gave an informative and engaging presentation via zoom link, on the benefits and advantages of ratifying the 2001 Convention, which is intended to enable State Parties better protect their underwater cultural heritage, such as shipwrecks, sunken cities and burial sites.

To support the advocacy for ratification, the attendees watched a on the 2001 Convention, and discussed the various attributes of the Convention, including the immense potential of protecting the underwater cultural heritage for sustainable development, notably through tourism; the milestones Kenya has taken in the process of ratification; as well as capacity building and training activities. Participants also shared a road map towards ratification, which included the formation of a National Ratification Task Force for ratification of the 2001 Convention, which consists of key policymakers.

Kenya has a rich maritime cultural past, which is an integral part of its identity. The ratification of UNESCO 2001 Convention will ensure that there are legal structures in place to protect this heritage from the threats of treasure hunters and uncontrolled development, which is critical to its protection. It also offers opportunities for sustainable tourism development not only in Kenya but along the entire East African coastline.

Ms. Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

The 2001 Convention sets out basic principles for the protection of underwater cultural heritage, and provides widely recognized practical guidelines for underwater cultural heritage treatment and research. The main principles set out in the Convention are: