Culture, Arts and Heritage PS Ummi Bashir when she appeared before
the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture on February 26, 2025.Four hundred heritage sites in the country are faced with extinction due to poor maintenance, a House Committee has been told
The Principal Secretary Culture, Arts and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, told the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture that lack of funds has hampered regular maintenance of the historical sites.
While responding to concerns by Busia County MP Catherine Omanyo on why national heroes and heroines such as renowned broadcaster Mambo Mbotela were not honoured, the PS noted that the department did not have money for the same.
"We have requested for Sh50 million for the establishment of the Heroes Fund to honour great citizens who put the country to fame and we ask the committee to help get the money," she added.
Some of the other projects that the department has requested funds for their facilitation include the construction of the Wundanyi Resource Centre, the establishment of a music studio to support artists, the upgrading of Kapenguria Six site and construction of Marachi Cultural Centre among others.
The PS noted that finalisation of the Kiswahili Bill and establishment of the National Kiswahili Council has been hampered by lack of money.
The PS warned that the country risks losing its history and prevailed upon the Dan Wanyama-led committee to push for allocation of funds for maintenance.
"Kenya is blessed with unique historical sites across the country which are tiring due to neglect. We request the committee to help have funds allocated for their rehabilitation," said Bashir.
She noted that the sorry state of the historical sites has made both local and international tourists to shy away from visiting them.
"The few tourists who visit some of the sites have expressed their dissatisfaction with their state."
Bashir had appeared before the committee for presentation of the department's 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya attended the meeting briefly before he left for other engagement.
"To actualise the outlined policies and programs, the department has been allocated Sh3.54 billion for the FY 2025/26 against it's requirement of Sh5,98 billion," she explained.
The PS told the Committee that the allocated amount consists of Sh3.45 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh90 million for development.
The committee observed that there was a need to rehabilitate
and conserve historical sites and urged the department to also seek support
from global donors.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi told the PS to come up with a roadmap for global partnership for financial support and maintenance of the heritage sites.
"There are global partners who would be interested in supporting conservation of the heritage sites, and you need to reach out to them to supplement what the government provides for the same," said Omondi.
National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture chair Dan
Wanyama during a meeting with State Department for Culture, Arts and Heritage
on February 26, 2025/HANDOUT
