RE-EVALUATING ARCHAEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, THE MINIMALIST STATE, AND REGENERATION OF SOCIETY IN KENYA - GILBERT WAFULA

Mr. Gilbert K. Wafula is a Lecturer in the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Nairobi. He holds a BA degree in Archaeology from the University of Nairobi and an MA degree from the University of London (UCL Institute of Archaeology).

This presentation addresses the question of how archaeological and heritage resources in Kenya can be useful in helping to address the myriad social and economic challenges facing the country at present. It is argued that despite numerous obstacles, archaeology, and associated cultural heritage resources have the potential to serve the public good, for the benefit of the citizens of Kenya irrespective of their social and economic status, and the people of the world at large. The presenter advocates for a values-based heritage conservation approach to the exploitation of archaeological resources that aims at preserving the cultural significance of places, by balancing the aesthetic, historic, scientific, spiritual, social and economic values held by past, present, and future generations.