Three architectural scholars have urged the government to
consider funding restoration of ...
historical buildings across the country.
historical buildings across the country.
In a joint paper, they said the country should go beyond prohibition of destruction and allow renovation using public funds.
This
was contained in a paper titled, “Reflections on Architectural
Morphology in Nairobi, Kenya: Implications for Conservation of the Built
Heritage”.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology’s Centre for Urban Studies founding director, architect
Mugwima Njuguna, senior lecturer Gerryshom Munala and Department of
Construction Management lecturer Teckla Muhoro said Nairobi had
distinctive buildings that keep alive Kenya’s social, political and
cultural history.
“These buildings, in their various
styles, paint Nairobi as a cross-cultural city where a range of world
architecture has become acceptable. Historic buildings in Nairobi are
under significant pressure from property and infrastructure
development,” they said.
The dons said the current
occupiers of such structures should be granted tax incentives, among
other financial benefits, to enable them continue preserving them.
“Governments
also provide tax credits for the restoration of commercial buildings
listed as monuments. Successful preservation of old towns and buildings
might be of use if applied in Nairobi. This will help in ensuring that
property owners do not feel short-changed or burdened when their
buildings are listed as monuments,” says the paper.
Tourist attractions
The
paper, published in the current JSTOR digital library, adds that all
documented historical buildings must be publicised as tourist
attractions and subjects of study for students of various building
technologies.
“Keeping historic buildings in constant
and efficient use seems to be the best for their conservation.
Sustainable, innovative conservation efforts need to be devised and
implemented,” it adds.
The report precedes last week’s
announcement by Sanlam Group that it was disposing of its five-storeyed
headquarters on Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi, which is a preserved monument,
for Sh460 million.
This set tongues wagging as the
property is centrally located in the city where a vacant plot similar to
the 0.34 acre parcel of land would go for Sh500 million.
“It
is greatly undervalued and its recognition as an 86-year-old preserved
monument should have attracted billions of shillings. We need to create
value for preserved monuments to help increase interest among property
dealers,” said Nairobi resident Peter Mutai.
National
Museums of Kenya director general Mzalendo Kibunjia said Kenya needs to
urgently rethink its preservation strategy by ordering regular
valuations of all monuments in public and private hands to promote
interest among property dealers and seekers.
“Heritage
conservation is threatened by increased building construction,
infrastructural expansion as well as terrorism. Conservators must seek
to expand principles and practices in the management of cultural and
natural heritage,” he said.
Go to ruin
Interestingly,
while Nairobi is awash with marvelous architectural buildings, their
preservation is wanting with their current owners deliberately letting
them go to ruin as the land they stand on is more valuable when vacant.
An example is Nairobi’s Chiromo Mansion built in 1905 and initially occupied by colonial administrator E.C Grogon.
Its is now owned by the University of Nairobi.
The building needs urgent repairs.
Another
property is Surat District Association Building located on Uyoma Street
and built in 1943. It is showing signs of neglect.
Most
of the preserved buildings are in ruin. They fetch their owners low
returns from fees paid by temporary occupiers operating stalls.
According
to JKUAT scholars, a holistic approach should be taken where Kenyans in
their respective counties are involved in creating a sense of civic
pride and ownership that ignites positive involvement in preservation of
monuments.
While everyone agrees that historic
buildings in Kenya are architectural marvels, no funds have ever been
set aside to document them for posterity.
In Morocco,
historical buildings are the biggest tourist attraction, bringing in
10.3 million visitors in 2016, compared with Kenya’s 1.2million during
the same period.
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