Foundation Engages Community over Ndula Museum
Board of Directors agreed to conserve as a National Heritage site and a museum. Following an MoU between KenGen, KenGen Foundation, and the National Museum of Kenya (NMK), the power station is already in the process of being gazetted as a national heritage site”, said Mr. Njeru.
Commissioned in 1927, Ndula was decommissioned and ceased commercial operation in 2010 after its operation became unsustainable due to hydrology and technology related issues..The National Museums has already conducted an initial site assessment and found the old station suitable for a national museum.
“The proposed museum site will include an information centre, botanical gardens, exhibitions and cultural activities’, said Hosea Wanderi, NMK’s Research Scientist. He told the community that the benefits they will get from the project will depend on how they take advantage of the opportunities offered both in the construction and running of the museum.
Apart from the main museum, the site will also incorporate a visitor centre, an interpretation centre, a resource centre, a picnic site, and a nature trail including botanical gardens and waterfall.
“The community is set to benefit from employment opportunities and also through the sale and provision of goods and other supporting services”, said Hosea. “The grounds are also prime for other social events”, he added.
The Community was highly appreciative of the briefing and pledged to support the project.
KenGen has been involved in implementing Corporate Social Investment activities at Ndula since 1998. It has continued offering education scholarships to the needy bright secondary and university students from the area, and is currently constructing two classrooms at Ndula Secondary School. The museum will add to the list of KenGen CSI activities in the area.
Following the signing of the MoU between KenGen, KenGen Foundation and National Museums, initial work on the construction and refurbishment of the power station into a museum is set to begin soon.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
