Promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation in Lamu Old Town (Kenya)

Lamu Old Town faces multiple threats from climate change, energy needs and rapid social and economic transformation. The Lamu Old town management plan and the Lamu Municipality Waste Management Policy focused on integrating physical, social and environmental solutions with traditional practices that could help in building resilience towards disasters, including those induced by climate change.

About Lamu Old Town

The Old Town of Lamu is located on an island by the same name within the Lamu Archipelago on the northern Kenyan Coast. The Old Town occupies approximately 16 hectares and consists of a buffer zone of approximately 1200 hectares, covering part of the Indian Ocean waters and the Manda Island skyline to guarantee the site's authenticity. Lamu Island has a population of approximately 25,000, of which 15,000 are residents within the Old Town and its environments (Census, 2009).

"Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions. Built-in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is characterised by the simplicity of structural form features such as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century and has become a significant centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures"

Statement of Outstanding Universal Value

Lamu stands out as the pre-eminent surviving model of the medieval Swahili city-states. Buildings are mostly constructed of local building materials such as quick lime for mortar and finishes, hardwood (Terminalia) for structural/slab support, and the unique interior design of buildings, which are more inward-looking. The town exhibits a unique urban plan with a labyrinth of narrow streets, traditional architectural designs, intricately carved timber doors and an unperturbed traditional way of life. The town evolved as one of the earliest seaports of call in East Africa and became an important trading point on the famous Indian Ocean trade route. The cultural influences from the latter’s interactions can still be experienced in the building technology, maritime activities, cuisine and customary practices. Lamu Old Town was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2001 under Criteria II, IV, and VI.

Management framework

The National Museums of Kenya established the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office, which has operated since 1986. A conservation officer is seconded to Lamu County Council for advice on conservation matters. A planning commission has existed since 1991 to play a supervisory role and address emerging issues in the conservation area. There exists a conservation plan for Lamu Old Town, which is used as a guide in balancing the community’s needs for development and sustaining the architectural values of the town. A draft management plan has been developed that intends to address issues such as the mushrooming of informal settlements in the setting of the property, encroachment and illegal development on the dunes water catchment area, the proposed port and cruise ship berth, and oil exploration. The plan also aims to strengthen the inter-ministerial relationships to enhance an integrated management approach, including the establishment of a conservation fund, for sustainable conservation and management of the property.

Between 2011 and 2020, several State of Conservation reports were presented to the World Heritage Committee, and Reactive Monitoring missions were carried out in 2010, 2015, and 2019. According to the recent mission’s report, the threats that could have an impact on the integrity of the property included but were not limited to pressure from urban development, transport infrastructure, encroachment of the archaeological sites, non-renewable energy facilities (Coal Power plant), and intensified water shortages, as a result of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project. In 2019, the World Heritage Committee affirmed that the lack of significant progress in the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee and the reactive monitoring mission in 2019 would lead to considering the possibility of inscribing the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger (Decision 43 COM 7B.6).

In response to the Committee’s decision, the State Conservation report (2020) highlighted several measures that were realised; for example, the work on the Lamu Coal Plant was put on hold. In addition, the LAPSSET, an ongoing project with detailed plan components which are being developed individually by the relevant line ministries along with the necessary Environmental and Heritage Impact Assessments (EIAs/HIAs), is being reviewed. The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has been included in the technical committee for the LAPSSET Master Plan. The Lamu Heritage Committee action plan will be revised and aligned with the reviewed Management plan.

The World Heritage Committee, in (Decision 44 COM 7B.6), noted that “the work on the Lamu Coal Plant is on hold and requested as well that alternative solutions be proposed to meet the electricity needs of the region”. The decision also underlined the utmost need to clarify the boundaries of the buffer zone, including all of Lamu Island, parts of Manda Island, and relevant mangrove belts in the area. Additionally, the Committee requested the State Party to conduct a condition survey of the world heritage site and encouraged finalising the revision of the Management plan.

According to the site manager, other threats affecting Lamu Old Town include rapid social and economic transformation:

Modern lifestyle changes have increased demand for contemporary domestic utilities such as water-borne sanitary appliances. This has seen a massive conversion of traditional pit latrines into septic tanks to serve newly installed flush toilets, presenting concerns for its potential to contaminate groundwater and local wells. Adopting new water-borne utilities has also led to an over-extraction of water from local wells using mechanical pumps, which diminishes water columns in the wells.
In addition, consumption of newly manufactured commodities, especially those from plastics, has been on a steady increase, replacing locally produced organic products. This, coupled with poor waste management strategies, has resulted in environmental pollution from the plastic waste within the heritage site. Plastic pollution has been exacerbated by the abandonment of local products made from organic materials and ignoring practical solutions that are sensitive to the environment, such as the use of reusable water containers, straw baskets for shopping instead of polythene bags and locally produced cotton face masks instead of disposable ones.
Electrical reticulation within the Old Town has been poorly conceived and poses a hazard. Over the past decade, Lamu has experienced an increase in bulk supply and storage of liquid petroleum gas that is increasingly being adopted as an alternative for domestic use. However, the bulk storage facilities are located within densely populated areas and with little safety measures in place. This presents a potential threat to the built heritage in the event of a fire disaster, which could also significantly impact the marine environment.

Climate-related impacts

Lamu Old Town, due to its location on a sandy island, is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, in particular rising sea levels. Furthermore, the existing vulnerabilities of the electric, waste management and sanitation infrastructure could exacerbate the negative impacts of flooding.

Lamu Old Town has, over the last decade, experienced an inordinate spring tide causing the periodic flooding of the seafront street. The spring tide overflows at various points along the waterfront, and the water is adversely affecting the buildings through capillary action and erosion. The volume of water that comes over the wall is knee-high. The destruction of mangroves in some areas, which used to serve as a natural defence against strong winds, tsunamis and advancing waves, has exacerbated these risks.

Traditional knowledge and practices

Lamu Old Town was founded on a gently rising dune, ensuring that stormwater was naturally drained towards the sea. Its thoroughfares are aligned to the prevailing seasonal winds and daily sea breezes, allowing the natural cooling of the town. The narrow streets formed by nearby buildings ensure the streets are shaded for most of the day, providing cool temperatures at street level. The building technology of thick walls and floors also enhances the hygrothermal comfort of the stone structures.

The mangrove forest on Manda and the islets within the Lamu harbour act as a natural defence against strong winds, tsunamis and advancing waves. Knowledge of weather patterns, sea movement and naturally safe areas during adverse atmospheric conditions, accumulated by local fishermen, farmers, and sailors over the centuries, provides important information which enhances the community's resilience during extreme weather or disasters.

Climate action solutions and strategies

Addressing challenges

Lamu Old Town is considering a number of opportunities to resolve the threats posed by climate change, energy needs and modern lifestyle changes.

Climate change mitigation

Plastic waste: Local communities, with the assistance of state and non-state institutions, are undertaking recycling programmes using plastic and discarded metal objects. This is proving to be a practical long-term solution in reducing the volume of waste that cannot be adequately locally incinerated, thus reducing harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide through partial combustion. The Municipal authority has also invested in mechanical means of removal of rubbish from the Old Town.
New streetlights: The Lamu Municipality has introduced solar-powered streetlights as a sustainable means for capitalising on renewable energy.

Climate change adaptation

Monitoring of the periodic flooding of the seafront street: The site manager continues to monitor the volume of water annually.
Protection of native mangroves: The mangrove forests provide natural protection for the town against advancing waves and possible tsunamis. The mangroves are protected as the natural setting of the town and form part of the gazetted Manda – Kitau skyline.
Engaging local communities in documentation and mapping of indigenous knowledge: Traditional knowledge systems help build resilience towards disasters, including those induced by climate change. It also provides practical, effective solutions for identification, response, and recovery from the effects of adverse weather and other natural phenomena. In January 2022, the Kenyan National Commission for UNESCO conducted a community empowerment workshop with the support of the UNESCO Participation Programme. Enabling youth to identify and document this body of knowledge ensures its continuity and widespread use by current and future generations.

The community participants were eventually assisted in forming a community responders association which will henceforth work with the authorities in sensitizing the community on disasters also be the led agencies in responding to any kind of catastrophes. © National Museums of Kenya, June 2021.

A number of ruins in Shanga and Siyu are currently covered by light forest. The National Musem of Kenya (NMK) is seeking ways of opening up the site for visitors in collaboration with local communities. © National Museums of Kenya, Fort Jesus World Heritage Site and Lamu Museums, July 2021.

Climate Action and Disaster Risk Management in Kenya (CDARM-K) Team members leading community members in tree planting in order to create a natural barrier against strong winds and errant waves. © National Museums of Kenya, Fort Jesus World Heritage Site and Lamu Museums, July 2021.

Participants receives instructions on the edifications of attribute relating to built heritage, assessment of vulnerability and risks processes in the development of disaster risk management and how to respond on emergency cases. © National Museums of Kenya, June 2021.

Safeguarding Lamu’s Source of Drinking Water

The availability of fresh water is credited for the over 700 years of human habitation on Lamu island. Recent construction activities within the catchment areas bordering the Shela beaches threatened this vital water source. Local communities, in collaboration with state agencies, waged a strong objection to these activities with the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The protests waged by the communities against developments on the water Management Authority as one of the best examples of community-led protection of water catchment have gained national prominence and been adopted by the Water Resource aquifers in the country.

The site management authority also depends on working closely with stakeholders to address the site’s challenges. This includes hosting regular meetings with local communities; formal working relationships with the Lamu Water Users Association to assist in monitoring the sand dunes; establishing the Lamu Cultural Heritage Committee to develop action plans; and training local stakeholders on community-based adaptation and alternative livelihoods.

Group Photo community volunteers from Siyu, Mshundwani and Shanga village taken 8^th December 2020 © National Museums of Kenya, Fort Jesus World Heritage Site and Lamu Museums, July 2021.

Sources:

Contribution by Mohammed Ali Mwenje, curator, National Museums of Kenya.
World Heritage Cities Programme, World Heritage City Lab (16-17 December 2021), Historic Cities, Climate Change, Water, and Energy Report on the 10th Anniversary of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape.
World Heritage Committee, Decision 43 COM 7B. 107 (2020), State of Conservation report. https://whc.unesco.org/document/180836
World Heritage Committee, 43^rd session (2019). Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B.Add. https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/174159
World Heritage Committee, Decision 44 COM 7B.6 (2021), Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B.Add https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/188005
Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority - Building Transformative and Game Changer Infrastructure for a Seamless Connected Africa, https://www.lapsset.go.ke/
Publication: “Climate change in Lamu Old Town” p.95-99

Contribution towards global goals

How does this case study contribute to the global commitments of sustainable development, climate change action and heritage conservation?

Sustainable development

The initiative aims to contribute towards sustainable development by addressing the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Target 6.3 The initiative aimed to improve water quality by reducing pollution and by undertaking recycling programmes using plastic and discarded metal objects.

Target 6.b: the initiative aimed to support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management through effective collaboration of local communities with government agencies, with the support of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre against construction in the watershed area, which was recognised by the Water Resources Management Authority as one of best examples of community-led aquifers protection in the country.

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Target 7.1: the initiative aimed to improve general access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services by the replacement of charcoal and firewood burning by LPG for domestic use.

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Target 11.4 the initiative aimed to strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage by addressing the threats posed by climate change and more to the World Heritage property and developing the Lamu Old Town Management Plan

Target 11.6 the initiative aimed to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of Lamu, by paying special attention to municipal and other waste management by developing the Lamu Municipality Waste Management Policy and promoting recycling.

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Target 13.2 the initiative aimed to integrate climate change measures into local policies, strategies, and planning.

Target 13.3 the initiative aimed to improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning by engaging local communities in documentation and mapping of indigenous knowledge.

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Target 17.17: the project aims to involve and promote public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Climate change

Impacts

Stronger spring tides, periodic flooding, the vulnerability of infrastructures and waste management.

Traditional Knowledge

Traditional knowledge on weather patterns, sea movement and naturally safe areas during adverse atmospheric conditions, accumulated by local fishermen, farmers, and sailors over the centuries, provides important information which enhances the community’s resilience during extreme weather or disasters. Planning on the dune promotes natural draining towards the sea. Traditional building thick walls and floors also increase the hydrothermal comfort of stone structures. The mangrove forests provide natural protection for the town against advancing waves and tsunamis.

Solutions

Climate change mitigation:

Buse, community recycling programmes, and improving waste management.

Climate change adaptation:

Monitoring of the flooding,
Protection and regeneration of mangroves,
Engaging local communities in the documentation and mapping of indigenous knowledge,
Developing the Lamu Island Structure Plan, the Lamu Old Town Management Plan and the Lamu Municipality Waste Management Policy with a focus on integrating physical, social and environmental considerations that can promote ecologically sensitive practices and solutions integrated with heritage management frameworks.

Historic Urban Landscape

The project aims to contribute to the implementation of the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape approach by:

Taking a heritage-based approach to infrastructure development that minimises its negative impact on the heritage of the city
Integrating HUL tools in its broader context into management plans developed at the site level for the identification and preservation of urban heritage
Promoting sustainable urban water practices
Strengthening close collaboration between site management authority, state agencies and the local community to address the challenges facing the site
Engaging local communities in the documentation and mapping of indigenous knowledge
Providing training to local stakeholders on community-based adaptation and alternative livelihoods

Regulatory Systems Civic engagement Knowledge and planning tools

Learn more

Discover more about the details of the case study and the stakeholders involved.

To learn more

Visit the website of the National Museums of Kenya.
Read the report on the Historic Urban Landscape Workshops and Field Activities on the Swahili coast in East Africa 2011-2012, (18/08/2013) © UNESCO, World Heritage Centre, https://whc.unesco.org/document/133412
Read the State of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/188005, and https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4063

Contact

Mr Mohammed Ali Mwenje, Heritage Inspector - Lamu World Heritage Site National Museums of Kenya

Website: https://museums.or.ke/
Address: 48 Lamu, Coast, Kenya 80500
Email: mamwenje@museums.or.ke; mamwenje@gmail.com
Phone: +254.721141906

Credits

© UNESCO, 2023. Project team: Jyoti Hosagrahar, Muhammad Juma Muhammad, Carlota Marijuan Rodriguez, Altynay Dyussekova and Mirna Ashraf Ali.
Cover image: © Folkloreltd, via Wikimedia Commons.

Note: The cases shared in this platform address heritage protection practices in World Heritage sites and beyond. Items being showcased on this website do not entail any type of recognition or inclusion in the World Heritage list or any of its thematic programmes. The practices shared are not assessed in any way by the World Heritage Centre or presented here as model practices, nor do they represent complete solutions to heritage management problems. The views expressed by experts and site managers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Heritage Centre. The practices and views shared here are included as a way to provide insights and expand the dialogue on heritage conservation with a view to further urban heritage management practice in general. The described potential impacts of the initiative are only indicative and based on submitted and available information. UNESCO does not endorse the specific initiatives nor ratifies their positive impact.

Events 1

World Heritage City Lab – Historic Cities, Climate Change, Water, and Energy

16 Dec 2021 - 17 Dec 2021

Decisions / Resolutions (3)

44COM 7B.6 expand_more

Code: 44COM 7B.6

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B.Add,
Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.45, and 43 COM 7B.107, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), and 43rd (Baku, 2019) sessions respectively,
Expresses its thanks to the State Party for organizing a Reactive Monitoring mission to the property in November/December 2019, considering the security concerns and requests that the State Party implement the recommendations of the mission;
Underlines the utmost urgency of clarifying the boundaries of the property and putting in place an enlarged buffer zone to include all of Lamu Island, parts of Manda Island, and relevant mangroves belts in the area, as requested numerous times in the past, and also requests that an updated clearly delineated map of the property and its enlarged buffer zone be submitted to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for comment prior to formally submitting it to the World Heritage Committee as a minor boundary modification in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
Expresses its concern about the overall state of conservation of buildings within the property, and further requests the State Party to complete the survey of the building stock and strengthen enforcement of building controls to halt the deterioration and use of inappropriate materials;
Regrets that a revised Management Plan which takes into account the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project has not yet been completed and urges the State Party to complete it as soon as possible and submit it to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
Recognizes that the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has been included in the technical committee for the LAPSSET Master Plan, but also urges the State Party to ensure that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NMK and the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority is completed to ensure that the NMK has a role in decisions, that may affect heritage along the corridor, and in particular the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of relevant World Heritage properties, including Lamu Old Town;
Takes note of the need for greater awareness of the potential threats of the LAPSSET project on the OUV of the property at both the political and civil society levels, and requests furthermore the State Party to:
1. Send a High-Level governmental delegation, including representatives of the Ministry of Sport, Culture and Heritage and the National Museums of Kenya, to the property to assess the range of challenges and the urgency of finding solutions to ensure the safeguarding of the OUV of the property,
2. Establish a Heritage Task Team made of relevant government agencies at the national and local levels with the support and involvement of civil society in order to develop appropriate responses to the many development issues that may affect the OUV of the property,
3. Create a stakeholder and community forum for Lamu Island, which can also work closely with the LAPSSET project,
4. Set up a core corporate social responsibility programme in collaboration with the LAPSSET Corridor Development Authority and the County Government to ensure that sufficient funds are available for conservation at the property and heritage related projects;
Requests moreover the State Party to
1. Complete, as soon as possible, the work on the revision of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the LAPSSET project, taking into account both individual and cumulative impacts that the project and all of its sub-projects may have on the OUV of the property, as well as on Lake Turkana World Heritage property, and that no further components of LAPSSET be implemented before the SEA is completed and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
2. Provide to the World Heritage Centre, for each sub-project of LAPSSET (resort city, international airport, etc.), full information about the projects and their plans along with the necessary Environmental and Heritage Impact Assessments (EIAs/HIAs), for review by the Advisory Bodies before any irreversible decisions are taken about their implementation;
Notes that the work on the Lamu Coal Plant is on hold, and requests as well that alternative solutions be proposed to meet the electricity needs of the region, and that any developments in this regard undergo thorough independent EIAs/HIAs to ensure that there are no negative impacts on the OUV of the property;
Requests in addition the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/ICCROM Reactive Monitoring mission to the property in the first half of 2023 to review the progress made on the recommendations of the 2019 mission and the Decisions of the World Heritage Committee, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session;
Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, a progress report, and by 1 December 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session.