Kipini residents urge government to preserve historic DC’s office as tourist heritage site
Led by community leaders Jibril Gudo and Said Omar, the locals noted Kipini had suffered after the administrative headquarters were moved to Hola in Tana North.
Residents of Kipini in Tana Delta Sub-County, Tana River County, are appealing to the government to preserve a colonial-era District Commissioner’s (DC) office, urging the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) to restore the neglected structure and designate it as a tourist heritage site.
Led by community leaders Jibril Gudo and Said Omar, the locals noted Kipini had suffered after the administrative headquarters were moved to Hola in Tana North.
More To Read
- SokoLamu: County launches first online marketplace to boost local trade
- Cultural treasure: Uncovering secrets of Lamu's 400-year-old tombs
- Tana River unveils its first museum showcasing county's rich cultural heritage
- Lamu’s Bajuni artisans take pride in preserving age-old handicraft tradition
- Lamu’s Kahawa Chungu brewer marks 25 years of tradition and rich flavour
- Nairobi to host Somali exhibition as country marks Independence Day
They claimed this shift led to the loss of essential government services such as a fully equipped hospital, schools, and other amenities, pushing Kipini into marginalisation.
“We have had prominent leaders, including former Tourism Ministers Najib Balala and Suleiman Shakombo, visit this building and promise to restore it and register it as a heritage site. But those promises have never been fulfilled,” said Jibril.
They now urge President William Ruto to intervene and direct the Ministry of Tourism to undertake its renovation so that Kipini can benefit from both local and international tourism.
A view of the colonial-era District Commissioner’s (DC) office located in Kipini Tana River County. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
Jibril criticised the NMK for what he termed as biased attention, claiming the institution had focused solely on preserving the 120-year-old church in Ngao village, Tarasaa, while neglecting the historic DC’s office in Kipini.
“We are thankful for the work done in Ngao village, where the old church was transformed into a museum and tourist attraction. That same effort should be extended to Kipini,” he added.
Said highlighted the broader impact of the neglect, saying the absence of essential services had deepened poverty levels in the region.
He noted that residents are often forced to travel over 70 kilometres to Garsen to access basic government services.
“When the headquarters were moved to Hola, the main district hospital followed. Later, the Tana Delta became a district with Garsen as the headquarters. Tarasaa was recently elevated to Sub-County status, yet Kipini continues to be overlooked,” Said Stated.
A view of the colonial-era District Commissioner’s (DC) office located in Kipini Tana River County. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
He mentioned, “We are demanding that Kipini also be recognised as a Sub-County so we can regain the services we had even during the colonial period.”
Historical records show that in October 1899, British colonial officers established a base in Kipini to manage the Tana River District. The DC, known for being carried in a palanquin by selected strong and well-built men from surrounding villages, created a path to his office, which was famously nicknamed mzigo wa Malindi in the Kipokomo language..
Last year, Ngao village received a boost in cultural preservation efforts after NMK rehabilitated a 120-year-old missionary church. The project, funded by a Sh2.7 million grant from Greece-based Heritage International, turned the church built between 1900 and 1902 by German missionaries into a community museum.
It is now part of a wider tourism circuit that includes three First World War memorials in Garsen and a nearby Methodist church.
Kipini residents are now calling for similar investments in their own historical landmarks to ensure their cultural heritage is preserved and leveraged for economic growth.
Top Stories Today
