Listing The Sacred Mijikenda kaya Forests as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: “The Long Journey”

Kenya's Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, recognized for their high biodiversity and traditional conservation, were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites following a decade-long process initiated by the Kenya State Party. The study highlights the unique role of these forests in preserving cultural identity and natural heritage, with local communities successfully protecting them from encroachment for most of the 20th century without state involvement. Legal gazettement in 1992 marked a pivotal step, leading to their inclusion on the UNESCO candidate list in 1999. The paper meticulously documents this 'long journey,' offering firsthand insights into the nomination process and the criteria that underscored their outstanding universal value.

Githitho, A. (2016). Listing The Sacred Mijikenda kaya Forests as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: “The Long Journey”. Journal Des Africanistes, 86-1, 198–217. https://doi.org/10.4000/africanistes.4971