Lamu Old Town

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Lamu Old Town from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Redefining Authenticity: Post-colonial Heritage Management and Living Swahili Urbanism in Lamu World Heritage Site, Kenya

  A new framework for heritage authenticity, rooted in African living traditions and community agency, challenges Eurocentric conservation paradigms. The study of Lamu Old Town, Kenyareveals how Swahili practices like Maulidi rituals, dhow-building, and lime-plaster renewal are marginalized in favor of static architectural preservation. Using post-colonial analysis of policies and management plans, the research critiques tourism pressures, mega-infrastructure (e.g., LAPSSET corridor), and climate change impacts while advocating for a 'Living Authenticity Framework' that prioritizes dynamic, justice-oriented conservation. This approach centers community knowledge sovereignty and climate-responsive care, offering a rights-based model to redefine African heritage stewardship.

  Omar, K. M. (2026). Redefining Authenticity: Post-colonial Heritage Management and Living Swahili Urbanism in Lamu World Heritage Site, Kenya. Heritage Authenticity in Theory and Practice in Africa, 385–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-92-2619-1_28

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• Ambivalent temporalities of mega-infrastructures in Lamu, Kenya

  Mega-infrastructure projects, once central to state development strategies and local contestations, often recede into the background of everyday life as their initial goals falter. A study on Lamu Port, Kenya, reveals that such projects can become overshadowed by shifting political dynamics, leadership changes, and societal adaptations, rather than achieving their anticipated transformative impact. Fishermen displaced by the port's construction adapt precariously to new material conditions, while some actors begin to question whether the project will ever materialize, viewing its lack of progress as more threatening than the infrastructure itself. The research underscores the analytical value of studying infrastructure over time, highlighting how ambivalent temporalities demonstrate that once-spectacular or disruptive projects gradually become nebulous nodes within complex state-society relations and contestations.

  Lesutis, G. (2025). Ambivalent temporalities of mega-infrastructures in Lamu, Kenya. Geoforum, 159, 104199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2024.104199

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• Documenting challenges in achieving rabies elimination by 2030 in low-middle income countries; a Kenyan case study from Lamu County, 2020–2022: mixed methods approach

  A Kenyan case study from Lamu Old Town reveals significant challenges to achieving rabies elimination by 2030, despite the nation's strategic plan. Between 2020 and 2022, researchers documented 787 dog bite cases and six human rabies deaths, with only a third of these cases reported in official health databases. The study highlights critical gaps: underreporting of rabies cases, limited availability of human rabies vaccines (with stockouts at 73% of facilities), and inadequate knowledge among healthcare workers regarding proper bite wound management. Additionally, targeted dog vaccination efforts lack sample collection from biting dogs, and One Health collaboration between veterinary and human health departments is insufficient. These findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance, mass dog vaccination, improved information exchange, and training for healthcare workers to address the persistent rabies threat in low- and middle-income countries.

  Mwanyalu, N., Mwatondo, A., Chuchu, V., Maina, K., Muturi, M., Mutiiria, M., Chepkwony, D., Owiny, M., & Munyua, P. (2025). Documenting challenges in achieving rabies elimination by 2030 in low-middle income countries; a Kenyan case study from Lamu County, 2020–2022: mixed methods approach. One Health Outlook, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-024-00129-1

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• Forum theatre as a tool to promote positive donkey welfare on Lamu Island, Kenya

  Forum theatre emerges as a powerful tool for promoting positive donkey welfare in resource-poor, geographically isolated communities like Lamu Old Town, Kenya. The study demonstrates that this arts-based approach effectively raises awareness about key welfare issues—donkey health needs, welfare needs, and load-carrying limits—in both adult and youth audiences. Post-performance questionnaires revealed significant shifts in attitudes, particularly among children, who showed increased recognition of donkeys' pain responses and emotional states. Over 90% of adults reported heightened awareness after the performance, underscoring forum theatre's potential to bridge gaps in traditional engagement methods. This innovative approach offers a scalable solution for animal welfare advocacy in equid-reliant communities.

  Haddy, E., Proops, L., Bradley, T., Bowyer, C., & Sing’Oei, O. (2025). Forum theatre as a tool to promote positive donkey welfare on Lamu Island, Kenya. Animal Welfare, 34. https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2025.12

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• Blue Carbon Investment Potential in Lamu and Kwale Counties of Kenya: Carbon Inventory and Market Prospects

  Mangroves and seagrasses in Lamu and Kwale Counties, Kenya, store substantial carbon, with mangrove densities reaching 560.23 Mg C ha−1 in Lamu and 526.34 Mg C ha−1 in Kwale—over 70% of which is locked in sediments. These ecosystems also outperform national averages for seagrass carbon storage (171.65–220.29 Mg C ha−1), offering significant potential for climate mitigation through carbon markets. However, mangrove and seagrass degradation—losing 0.49% to 0.67% annually—poses risks, with projected emissions of up to 18.96 million tCO2e in Lamu under a business-as-usual scenario. Restoration could unlock revenues of USD 3.59 million annually for mangroves and USD 216,040 for seagrasses at a conservative carbon price of $20/tCO2e, highlighting the dual benefits of blue carbon investments for climate action and local livelihoods.

  Kairo, J. G., Mbatha, A., Wanyoike, G. N., Mungai, F., Githinji, B. K., Lang’at, J. K. S., Kinya, G., Kosgei, G. K., Mary, K., & Oming’o, L. (2025). Blue Carbon Investment Potential in Lamu and Kwale Counties of Kenya: Carbon Inventory and Market Prospects. Forests, 16(11), 1717. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16111717

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• Demand for mangrove ecosystem services and livelihood dependency in Lamu County, Kenya

  Nearly half of households in Lamu County, Kenya, report decreased dependency on mangrove ecosystem services due to alternative livelihoods, awareness campaigns, and regulatory measures. However, 69% remain directly dependent on these resources, with only 35% finding their needs adequately met—a mismatch influenced by livelihood type, socioeconomic factors like education level and proximity to mangroves, and urbanization pressures. The study highlights the urgent need for policies that balance conservation with community well-being through co-management, sustainable resource use, and income diversification.

  Olima, C. O., Fischer, M., Iheaturu, C., Marchant, R., & Owuor, M. A. (2025). Demand for mangrove ecosystem services and livelihood dependency in Lamu County, Kenya. Ecosystems and People, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2025.2595204

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• Facing Change at the Margins of the Kenyan Nation: The Promise of the Lamu Port

  Lamu Old Town, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, stands out as the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. This study highlights its unique cultural and socio-economic position within Kenya, shaped by centuries of Islamic influence, Indian Ocean trade networks, and distinct local traditions. The research reveals how Lamu's identity is deeply rooted in its Sunni Muslim faith, lunar phases, and annual maulid pilgrimage celebrations, while also reflecting broader regional and global connections through language, architecture, cuisine, and migration patterns. The analysis underscores Lamu's marginal yet resilient status as a cultural and economic hub, contrasting with the Kenyan mainland.

  Knote, C. (2024). 11 Facing Change at the Margins of the Kenyan Nation: The Promise of the Lamu Port. Governance and Islam in East Africa, 245–260. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474482998-014

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