The most outstanding and well preserved fort Jesus future is diminishing as the construction of a Sh498 million sea wall meant to protect its foundation from eroding has stopped. The contractor withdrew from the site after a disagreement with his consultant, Copperk Consultant Ltd. The wall was intended to prevent Indian Ocean waters from eroding the foundation of the Fort Jesus. Huge blocks remain at the site.
Its said that the construction stopped although the government had paid a reasonable amount of money that would allow the building to continue. A National Museums of Kenya source says; ”This is the third month now and there is no sign of consensus between those working on the project. Water has now started getting through the temporary walls built to allow the smooth construction of the wall.”
The NMK had reclaimed a two-acre tract and used it to put up a temporary cofferdam (a watertight enclosure that allows construction work below the waterline) that will protect workers from seawater. Water has started seeping through the cofferdam.
The construction of the sea wall started after experts expressed fears that the historical site would crumble with rising sea waves. NMK officials moved to put up the wall after a study by heritage and marine experts from Unesco warned that because of climate change most historic and cultural sites could be swallowed up by seawater.
The construction of the sea wall was therefore part of a rescue programme by NMK meant to protect historical sites and landmarks in the coastal region. NMK, the State corporation that manages museums, sites and monuments, had in 2016 announced that it will spend Sh100 million to rehabilitate Fort Jesus and a further Sh15 million to restore the Vasco da Gama Pillar to shield them from the vagaries of the weather.
If the construction doesn’t resume, Kenya will lose one of its tourist attraction site, Fort Jesus, which will affect the economy negatively.