Nairobi — The United Nations has asked the Kenyan government to show more commitment in preserving the Lamu World Heritage site in the wake of planned development of a second port and prospecting for oil in the area.

Even after the government announced her commitment in preserving the environment and heritage in Lamu, UNESCO is getting more concerned about the increasing threats to the world heritage site.

Kenya's representative to the World Heritage Committee, a component of the UN Dr George Abungu said the greatest opportunity and threat that Lamu faces comes from the proposed development of a port at Magogoni.

According to Dr Abungu, the listing of Lamu as a world heritage site in 2001 brought with it more challenges as more foreigners were interested in acquiring a piece of the coastal jewel.

"This has led to mass transfer of housing property away from local families who are holders and protectors of the intangible heritage.

"Even the sand dunes, Lamu's only source of water have recently been subdivided and are on the market for the willing buyers," he said adding that the listing on the other hand brought many expectations from the inhabitants but unfortunately that has not translated into any investment by the government.

He noted that poverty which was prevalent still persists, the open unhygienic drainage system had not changed yet people cannot see any wrong in selling their heritage for the much needed money.

Dr Abungu said despite the area's rich cultural heritage earlier environmental impact assessments on developments such as exploitation of oil and gas from the islands, for instance only had two paragraphs on cultural heritage adding that there was need to engage elders in consultations.

He said in his review of Lamu that the gains to be made from the proposed projects are important but that must take cognizance of the need for conservation and preservation of the world heritage site.

"The government must put measures in place to ensure that the heritage site retains its integrity, authenticity and state of conservation as an internationally recognised property of outstanding universal value so as to avoid being deregistered.

The chairman of the Lamu cultural promotion group Ghalib Alwi said Lamu has been categorized as one of the districts in Kenya where landlessness and poverty levels are on sharp rise.

"The rush for land inspired by the proposed sea-port development has further compounded the dire situation of the indigenous communities by sending their quest for traditional rights to their land to oblivion.

"As the new port is proposed the land grabbers from the political elite and other parts of the country are busy producing title deeds on pieces of property that have been owned by the indigenous populations for centuries," Mr Alwi said.