Kenya plans to set up its first underwater museum showcasing over 500 Portuguese shipwrecks discovered in Ngomeni, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County.
The shipwrecks, identified by local fishermen in the Indian Ocean, are believed to date back to around 1524.
One of the ancient vessels, measuring approximately 20 meters wide and 40 meters long, is thought to have been used by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama during one of his final expeditions.
However, experts remain uncertain whether the ship served as a warship or a trading vessel.
The excavation which is led by Kenya’s only underwater Archeologist Ceaser Bita of the National Museums of Kenya has made a major breakthrough of discovering more items including pottery and elephant tusks from the ship in the last 15 days.
Gari Philbrick aged 77 from United States of America sponsored the Ngomeni Underwater Excavation together with Prof Filipe Castro a Portuguese Underwater Archeology Expert as well as local fishermen.
Susan Mtakai from the Kenya Coast Guard took journalists on a tour of Ras Ngome in Ngomeni at the site of the Shipwreck to witness the whole process of underwater excavation.
The Shipwreck museum will showcase Kenya’s underwater heritage which has remained largely unexplored until now.
By Dickson Wekesa