NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has received a progress briefing on the proposed Kenya Home of Human Origins Museum and Science Park, a flagship heritage project planned for the Lake Turkana Basin that seeks to position Kenya as a global hub for archaeological research, heritage preservation and eco-tourism.
The President said the initiative is being spearheaded by a presidential taskforce in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya and will be established in the Kalokol area, strategically located between Turkana and Marsabit counties.
According to Ruto, the project is expected to transform the region into an internationally recognized centre for the study of human origins while promoting conservation, scientific research and sustainable tourism.
One of the key objectives of the museum and science park is to facilitate the repatriation of approximately 32,000 Kenyan heritage collections currently held in museums and institutions across the world.
The President said the project is also designed to deliver direct socio-economic benefits to local communities through investments in essential infrastructure and public services.
These include improved water supply for households and livestock, enhanced security, expanded digital connectivity, better road infrastructure, upgraded health and education facilities, and the renovation of existing museums within the region.
“The project aims at transforming the region into a global centre for research, preservation of heritage and eco-tourism,” Ruto said after receiving the progress report.
The Lake Turkana Basin is globally recognized as one of the world’s most significant archaeological landscapes and has yielded some of the most important discoveries relating to early human evolution.
Among its most celebrated discoveries is Turkana Boy, a remarkably preserved Homo erectus skeleton estimated to be about 1.6 million years old, alongside some of the oldest known stone tools associated with early human ancestors.
The government hopes the planned museum and science park will strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading destination for archaeological research while boosting tourism and creating new economic opportunities for communities in northern Kenya.