With
its vast architectural remains, abundant
wildlife, and idyllic location, the
ancient port of Mtwapa is one of the
most important sites on Kenya’s Swahili
Coast. Occupied between A.D. 1100 and
1750, the site, 25 kilometers north
of Mombasa, covers approximately eight
hectares. The site provides an important
window on the evolution of town planning
and the commercial development of coastal
Kenya.
Since the site’s abandonment more than
two centuries ago, its perimeter wall
has cracked in numerous places and is
on the verge of complete collapse. Coral
used in the construction of the building
walls has suffered from exposure to
the elements, a situation aggravated
by growth of moss. Perhaps the greatest
threat to the once-thriving port, however,
is real estate development, as Mtwapa
has become one of Kenya’s fastest growing
beach resort areas.
The National Museums of Kenya have
deployed a number of officers to protect
the site and have prepared a preliminary
management plan, which includes fencing
of the site, vegetation removal, and
documentation and consolidation of its
architectural remains. Resources for
the plan’s implementation, however,
have been limited to non-existent. Despite
the fact that the local community has
expressed interest in the site—as well
as others along the Swahili Coast—and
Mtwapa’s inclusion on WMF’s 2004 Watch
list, little progress has been made
toward the plan’s implementation.
