The making of a world heritage site

One of the streets in Mombasa old Town. [File, Standard]

To declare a site a World Heritage Site, Unesco works with a local host organisation (Kenya National Commission for Unesco, known by the acronym KNATCOM).

The purpose of this declaration is the purposes of preservation of World Heritage Sites due to their universal value to humanity and the current and future generations.

According to the International Council on Monuments and Sites, a proposed site has to undergo five steps to qualify to be under World Heritage Site.

"A site has to go through these steps to be considered for prestigious recognition after meeting key cultural and natural criteria developed by Unesco for heritage sites," says Dr Evangeline Njoka, Secretary General KNATCOM.

She says her office works closely with the enlisting body to fast-track the process before an official announcement is made after the site qualifies to be enlisted.

The benefits of being recognised as a World Heritage Site create greater awareness that leads to a general rise in the level of protection, and conservation given to heritage properties.

A country may also receive financial assistance, and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites.

To become a World Heritage Site, there is a process to be followed, starting from nomination for consideration and going through vetting by advisory bodies and the World Heritage Committee.

To make it to the last step, a site must be of outstanding universal value and must meet at least one out of the ten selection criteria. These criteria are regularly revised by the Committee to reflect the evolution of the World Heritage Site concept itself.

In Kenya, Dr Njoka, says, her commission and other partners ensure the country's sites and monuments that have rich Kenyan history, are proposed to Unesco so that they are protected and preserved for the posterity of the nation.