Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site

• Need to expanding the property boundary at the south-eastern end of the property
• Lack of exact demarcation of the extended buffer zone
• Lack of an indicator-based monitoring system

On 16 January 2020, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1450/documents/, and provides the following information:

• The State Party is currently working to acquire land in order to extend the property boundary at the south-eastern end of the property, and expects to complete this process in 2020. Activities to date have included negotiations with land owners, survey and mapping;
• Work to define and legally approve the exact demarcation of the buffer zone will be undertaken once the land acquisition for the property extension is completed;
• A database has been established at the National Museums of Kenya Archaeology Laboratory in Nairobi, and archaeological documentation has been included using a single accession number for the property. Links to publications and reports are included;
• A monitoring system has been established and is being implemented. Data is collected through collaborations between the National Museums of Kenya, the Migori County Government, and quarterly reports prepared by the Site Manager.

The efforts undertaken by the State Party to respond to the Committee’s recommendations in Decision 42 COM 8B.14 are acknowledged. Work is continuing in relation to the recommendations concerning the extension of the boundary and precise delineation of the buffer zone. The State Party is advancing these through the acquisition of land for public purposes, which is expected to be completed in 2020. The process of acquiring the land is understood to involve careful and thorough processes of documentation and negotiation. In welcoming progress towards the recommended extension of the property boundary, it is noted that the ICOMOS evaluation of the nomination stated that property ownership was not a pre-requisite for extending the property, and that inclusion of areas outside of State ownership could also meet the recommendation of the World Heritage Committee, given that there is an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Museums of Kenya and the local landowners. In line with the ‘Policy Document for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective in the Processes of the World Heritage Convention’ (2015), it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue ensuring that the rights of communities are respected in the processes of land acquisition.

Good progress has been made to collect all archaeological materials, information and reports for Thimlich Ohinga in a single database maintained by the National Museums of Kenya. The ability to access and use these resources will be of benefit to the long-term management and decision-making of the property. It is noted that there is no mention of the inclusion of other information recommended by ICOMOS, such as associated oral traditions and records of conservation actions.

The advice that a monitoring system (including regular reports from the Site Manager) has been established is welcomed, as is the report that the needed agreements between the County Government of Migori and the National Museums of Kenya are being established. No details of the monitoring system have been received, and it is recommended to emphasize to the State Party the need for the indicators and measurements to be tied to the condition of the tangible and intangible attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and to be practical, measurable, sustainable and relevant for the long-term monitoring requirements of World Heritage properties.

Finally, it is reported that Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) will be undertaken in relation to all ‘infrastructural developments’ in or near the property prior to any approvals, but that none have been proposed since the inscription of the property. It is noted that the intent of the Committee’s recommendation included plans for new infrastructure, including tourism facilities (e.g. eco-lodge, camping site and picnic areas), and therefore the State Party should be urged to implement their commitment to HIA across this breadth of possible developments.