| |
Established | April 19, 2011 |
---|---|
Location | Wajir, Kenya |
Type | Cultural museum |
The Wajir Museum ( Swahili: Makumbusho ya Wajir; Somali: Matxafka Wajeer) is a museum located in northeastern Kenya. The museum is in charge of showing the different cultures that inhabit Wajir. The museum is managed by the state-owned National Museums of Kenya Corporation. This is the first museum in Wajir County. [1]
The building where the museum is located is one of the oldest in Wajir, this building was constructed by Italian prisoners of war. [2] In 2007, the National Museums of Kenya Corporation conducted a survey in which it recommended the establishment of a museum in the larger Wajir district. [3] The building was transformed into a museum and was inaugurated in 2011. [4] One of the reasons the museum was created was to encourage tourism in Northern Kenya. [5] The inauguration of the museum was attended by the Minister of State for Development of Northern Kenya Mohammed Ibrahim Elmi. The Kenya Museum Society donated a DVD player, solar power system and TV set to the museum. [6] In December 2015, the second Wajir cultural festival was held at the museum, the event was organized by the National Museums of Kenya and the Wajir County government. [7]
The museum preserves the historical and natural heritage of this area of Kenya. [8] The museum contains exhibits dedicated to the Northern Kenyan communities such as the Samburu, Gabra, Daasanach, El Molo, Boorana, Somali, Pokot, Turkana and Rendile. [9]