Work has begun on the construction of a protective wall for the most famous and iconographic cultural and tourist site of Malindi, the Vasco Da Gama Pillar.
The pillar that recalls the landing of the Portuguese explorer in 1498 (it is not the original "padrao", but a copy reconstructed by the British in the nineteenth century) and symbol of who first brought the Christian faith to the coast of Kenya, risks losing its "base".
The rocks of the homonymous tip are in fact crumbling due to marine erosion and winds.
We had already illustrated the story (you can read it here) during our previous inspection together with the National Superintendent of Marine Archaeology Caesar Bita and managers of the National Museums of Kenya.
"After that reconnaissance - explains Bita - we carried out marine explorations to assess the eco-sustainability of the project and the possible presence of ancient finds, even of fossil nature. After that, NEMA also gave a positive opinion to the construction of the wall, which will not change the panorama that can be enjoyed from the site, nor the tourist postcard image that the whole world has of Malindi, that of its historical symbol, the Vasco Da Gama Pillar. But above all, thanks to this wall it is hoped that the danger that the rocks on which the pillar is placed and through which it is accessed will be destroyed by the force of the Indian Ocean can be mitigated".
Well, Malindikenya.net visited the site yesterday and saw the work and the project, partly financed by the European Union under the Blue Economy programme.