A DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

Introduction

The “Crying Stone” is located on Kakamega/Kisumu Road approximately 5 kilometres from the Centre of Kakamega town.

Every time I look at The “Crying Stone “of Kakamega, I recall a poem I read nearly 40 years ago: Oxymiandas

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things.
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear_
“My  name is ozymandias, king of kings:
Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair!”
Nothing besides remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

By
Percy Bysshe Shelley

More particularly:

whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
And

“My  name is ozymandias, king of kings:
Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair!”

and by invoking of emotions thereof  I  amend the last two line to read

“My  name is Ikhongo Murwi, king of kings:
Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair!”

Indeed Ikhongo Murwi, as it is generally referred to by the local community invokes different feeling from every viewer which can only be described by that viewer at that moment. One thing is clear though, Ikhongo Murwi attracts attention and curiosity. Attention because of its majestic pause and curiosity about how it came about and perhaps what is going to happen next. It is a famous feature of Kakamega and indeed Western Province and attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the World.  In other words Ikhongo Murwi has an untold legend. In spite of this fame, Ikhongo Murwi appears neglected to such an extend that there is no proper access road, trees have been planted near by –almost obliterating its view and individuals are claiming it as a personal property.   It is the intention Ikhongo Murwi Conservation Trust  to take up this legend and tell the world in a more succinct way.  

Ikhong Murwi Conservation Trust is registered under the Trustees Act and its purpose is take possession of Ikhongo Murwi and its immediate environs, to protect it and conserve it for the public  and to promote it as a recreation and tourist attraction. It is expected that the recreation and tourist activities will generate income which will be used to add value to the features around it and a surplus will go into community projects. The Trustees are Chief Mulavu Segero(Ilesi Location), George Magenzi Musindi and Gerishom L. Majanja

FIVE YEAR PLAN NED ACTIVITIES

1.    Publicize the formation of the Trust and seek strong government recognition /support. It is important that the community understand what a trust is, the activities it intends to undertake and for whom. Strong  Government support  and good public relations with the community will be important for the success of this project (Estimated cost Shs 500,000.00)

2.    Legally acquire the stone and the environs- 100 metres radius- survey (Govt Assistance), demarcate, compensate land owners, obtain title and fence The survey will establish the boundaries of the required land and title issued in the name of the trust. The land owners should be fairly compensated. Estimated cost is Shs 15,000,000.00.

3.    Prepare financial and physical plans and carry out environment assessment. Estimated cost Shs 500,000.00.

4.    Engage an ecologist and landscape experts to produce a plan of ground structure. Estimated costs Shs 500,000.00

5.    Build structures necessary for recreation purpose. Structures will include a resource centre to store artifacts, historical pictures and reading material and important historical pictures and a small lecture room. Additionally there will be an acting stage for sukuti players. We plan to have a children playing ground to be used also for sukuti dancers. It is expected that there will also be a coffee shop.

6.    It is expected that in five years time if this project is implemented as planned it will generate about 50 permanent jobs,100 temporary engagements, a market for local product, contribute significantly to tourism development in Kakamega County  and overall generate approximately Shs 5million per year.
We appeal to all well wishers to make contributions to this noble plan that will turn the “ikhongo Murwi” site more attractive and create job opportunities for our people in addition to contributing to the general development of the area.

GERISHOM L. MAJANJA
TRUST SECRETARY,
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