The Department of Culture in collaboration with UNESCO initiated an intervention to safeguard the Traditions and Practices of the Mijikenda. The project received funding from UNESCO in August 2011 and its implementation started in October 2011. The project has a life-span of three years from the time of its inception. The primary objectives addressed in the safeguarding plan are as follows:-
i.To empower the Mijikenda communities with skills, knowledge and resources to promote viability and ensuring transmission of the element.
ii.To disseminate existing information related to the Mijikenda traditions and practices to the public with a view of raising awareness.
iii.To educate the youth and other community members on the importance and significance of the traditions and practices associated to the Kaya sacred forest.
iv.To promote cooperation and networking amongst communities.
v.To promote the management and environmental conservation of the sacred Kayas of the Mijikenda.
vi.To put in place favorable legislative and management framework in support of the safeguarding measures.
The project has achieved the following concrete results:-
i.Empowered Mijikenda communities with skills and knowledge on project management.
ii.Public awareness raised on the Mijikenda traditions and practices associated through the production and dissemination of brochures and newpaper supplements.
iii. An educated youth and other community members well-informed of the signficance of the traditions and practices associated to Kaya sacred forest.
iv.Network and teamwork established amongst communities.
v.Conserved environment and well managed sacred Kayas of the Mijikenda.
vi.The outcome of objective vi will be achieved during phase three of the Kaya project.

The activities that were carried out in the implementation of the project in order to achieve the expected results include;
i.Designing and initiating income-generating activities taking into account the specificities of each Mijikenda community. Sixty-six (66) langstroth beehives, Eighteen (18) catcher boxes, ten (10) smokers, Eight (8) wheel barrows, ten (10) bee suits, twelve (12) pairs of gumboots, six (6) watering cans, twelve (12) hoes, twelve (12) machetes, twelve (12) spades, assorted seeds, assorted honey processing and packaging materials were bought and distributed to six Kaya communities. Experts in tree nurseries and bee-keeping were engaged to assist the communities to establish the projects. The individual woodlots established in homesteads of Kaya elders have reduced dependence on forest resources such as firewood, timber and building poles. Most Kayas have generated income from the sale of honey and seedlings and in turn the same is used to support the enactment of ceremonies and rituals and supplements family incomes.
ii. Young members of the Mijikenda community volunteer to undergo apprenticeship so as to gain knowledge and understanding of the practices as they prepare to become future members of the Council of elders. For example, Kaya Kauma started conducting ceremonies and rituals from 23rd November to 13th December, 2013, aimed at inducting ten young members of the community into the Council of elders.
iii.Reviewing and integrating of information into the national inventory; In December, 2010 the Department of Culture organized a workshop for the Mijikenda communities to sensitize them on community inventorying. The workshop focused on community participation in the identification and inventorying of intangible cultural heritage. Since the inscription of the element, the Department of Culture has been holding frequent meetings with the Mijikenda communities and their council of elders. These meetings have been invaluable in gathering information about the culture of the Mijikenda. The information obtained so far has been used to review and update the National inventory.
iv.Four thousand (4,000) brochures in both English and Kiswahili were printed and distributed to members of the public and stakeholders in order to raise public awareness about the project as well as about the existing information related to the Mijikenda traditions and practices. In addition the Daily Nation newspaper carried out a paid-up newsletter supplement on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Mijikenda Kayas.
v.The Department of Culture in collaboration with the Mijikenda communities and other stakeholders organized community cultural festivals and exchange programmes as well as visits to the Kayas by youth. The Inter-community Cultural Festival was held on 8th September 2012 at Kaya Rabai, Bomani village. The festival showcased the greatest assembly of diversity of the traditional dances. Besides the dancing, there were displays of cultural exhibits of the Kaya traditional lifestyles such as making makuti thatches, traditional foods exhibitions and handcrafts. To witness this rare assembly of living culture of the Mijikenda was the Rabai community. Approximately 100 Kaya elders and over 600 community members were in attendance. The festival was graced by the then Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture, Dr. Jacob Ole Miaron, who was accompanied by the then Director of culture, Mrs. Gladys W. Gatheru (now deceased), UNESCO Programme specialist for Culture, Ms Mulekeni Ngulube, NMK Assistant Director, Coast, and the Rabai District Commissioner, Ms Caroline Nzwili. The inter-community exchange visits was carried out on the 4th and 5th September 2012. It involved Kaya elders, women and youth from Kayas Rabai, Kauma and Duruma visiting each other at their respective Kaya locations. The purpose of the visits was to learn from their peers on how they were progressing with projects, intercultural linkages, cooperation and networks for the promotion of intangible cultural heritage activities related to the Kayas.
vi. In Kaya Rabai and Kaya Duruma, the Councils of elders have been inviting various schools into the Kayas where the elders informally introduce the learners to the traditions and practices of the Mijikenda. Chizini primary school students visited the neighbouring Kaya Duruma while Galana secondary school students from Malindi visited Kaya Mudzimuvya and the Rabai Memorial Museum. This helps to transmit knowledge to the young generation thereby safeguarding the element. A total of about 140 students visited the Kayas.
vii.Carrying out monitoring and evaluation activities at various levels; Monitoring and evaluation is an ongoing process. Since the inception of the project aimed at safeguarding the element, every visit made to the Kaya conducted some monitoring and evaluation to assess the progress so far made. Any shortcomings noted were followed by suggestions on their improvement and way forward.

UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage emphasizes the importance of communities’ participation in the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. The preparation of the safeguarding plan for the element was a culmination of a series of meetings organized by the Department of Culture in collaboration with the Kaya communities, groups and individuals concerned. The first activity began with organizing of a workshop for representatives of Kaya elders, women and the youth who were trained on project design, management and implementation. The training equipped the elders, women and the youth with skills and knowledge to guide the implementation activities in their respective Kayas. After the training, every Kaya formed management committees to oversee the implementation process.
The inter-community cultural exchange visits between the communities involved youth, men and women living around the Kayas and this helped communities to share their experiences and challenges in safeguarding the element. The annual inter-community cultural festival brought together all the communities living around the Kayas to witness the traditional performances, rituals and exhibitions which formed some aspects of the element and this strengthened the members who have pledged to keep these traditions alive by transferring them to the younger generations. The student visits to the Kayas were a clear testimony of the willingness of the young generation to learn from the elders their cultures. The elders mobilized the schools, guided them inside the Kayas and were enthusiastic to induct the youth who were excited by what they saw and learnt.
The Department of Culture, being the competent body for the implementation of the Kaya project, facilitated and coordinated all the above activities in collaboration with other Government agencies such as the Permanent Presidential Music Commission, National Museums of Kenya and Coastal Forest Conservation Unit. The aforementioned bodies together with other technical experts provided the human resources required for the implementation of the project.

Appended here below is a timetable and cost of the Implementation of the project ‘Traditions and Practices associated to the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda’
Phase I
Activities undertaken from 22nd to 28th October, 2011 in Rabai, Kauma and Duruma communities:-
a)Training workshop on project design and management for three communities at Makuti Villas, Kilifi;
i. Hire of hall.
ii. Hire of equipment.
iii. Purchase of stationery.
iv. Design and initiate income-generating activities of beekeeping, purchase of protective cloths, packing materials, beehives.
Source of funds: The activities cost Ksh 718,900 from UNESCO and Ksh. 256,000 being Government of Kenya’s contribution.
Activities undertaken from 26th February to 2nd March, 2012 in Rabai, Kauma and Duruma communities:-
b)Designing information materials for project brochures in English and Kiswahili;
i. Printing of the project brochures in English and Kiswahili.
ii. Recording, photography and filming of elements.
iii. Preparing a paid up News paper supplement on ICH of the Mijikenda.
iv. Distribution of ICH materials.
v. Field Visits to Kayas by young people.
vi. Hire of buses for students to visit the Kayas.
vii. Provision of lunches and refreshments for students.
Source of funds: The activities cost Ksh 1,025,050from UNESCO and Ksh. 198,000 being Government of Kenya’s contribution.
Activities undertaken from 26th August to 2nd September, 2012 in Rabai, Kauma and Duruma communities:-
c)Initiate income generating activities of beekeeping and tree nurseries, purchase of additional project materials and equipment;
i. Recording, photography and filming of elements.
ii. Distribution of ICH materials.
iii. Organization of one day community Cultural Festival.
iv. Hire of buses for elders travel during the exchange visits.
v. Provision of lunches and refreshments.
vi. Hire of audio equipment .
vii. Organization and coordination of intra-community cultural exchange programme.
viii. Communication.
ix. Organization of three Inter-Community Cultural exchange programmes.
x. Facilitatation for the participation of a UNESCO expert.
xi. Facilitatation of interpretation.
The activities cost Ksh 1,425,139 from UNESCO and Ksh 194,000 being Government of Kenya’s contribution.
Phase II
Activities undertaken from 9th to 11th September, 2013 in Giriama, Digo and Chonyi communities:-
d)Training workshop on project design and management for three communities;
i. Hire of hall.
ii. Hire of equipment.
iii. Purchase of stationery.
iv. Designing and initiation of income-generating activities of beekeeping, purchase of protective cloths, beehives, bee catcher boxes.
v. Distribution of ICH materials.
vi. Recording, photography and filming of elements.
Source of funds: The activities cost Ksh 863,724 from UNESCO and Ksh. 219,000 being Government of Kenya’s contribution.

The safeguarding activities explained in B.3b and B.3c above have empowered the Mijikenda communities with skills, knowledge and resources and contributed effectively in promoting transmission and viability of the element.
Environmental Conservation;
Replanting trees in depleted sacred Kaya forests and homesteads have reduced reliance on the sacred forest for wood fuel. The activities have improved conservation of the forests, enhanced safeguarding and raised public awareness about the element particularly among the local communities at the national and international levels. They have greatly improved the esteem and identification of the local people and awoken the interest among the youth on the traditions and practices associated with the sacred forests of the Mijikenda.
Community participation;
Through the proceeds from the income generating activities intiated, the Mijikenda communities continue with the enactment of their traditions and practices. The Mijikenda have joined forces with NGOs, the Government, the Civil Society and Stakeholders to safeguard the traditions and practices. The Mijikenda communities have continually expanded their range of activities to better safeguard the element by engaging themselves willingly and with zeal. This, however, has not been necessarily an easy task, as the community is faced with challenges especially lack of resources. The engagement of the community provides a rich context for understanding the issues of viability, transmission and safeguarding practices. This has enhanced the social and cultural development of the Mijikenda communities and the position of the young members of the community. The interest of the youth in going into the forest as demonstrated during their field visits brought to life what students learn in the school curriculum, making the visit a valuable experience of reality. The Kayas illustrate the beauty of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention by providing an interface between text and reality and demonstrating how the Convention addresses people’s inspirations, reinforcing the community’s desires to safeguard their heritage. It is a spiritual experience, stimulating a connection of the community with their ancestors.
Ensuring viability;
It is interesting to note that the traditions and practices associated to the sacred forests of the Mijikenda have survived external influences (deforestation) and still reflects strong cultural beliefs, and by default contributes to conservation of biodiversity. The Kayas of the sacred forests of the Mijikenda are central to the communities’s existence and history and living Intangible Cultural Heritage which lends to its sustainability. In accordance to Articles 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the Convention, the Mijikenda communities have deliberately not labelled sites in the forests; since visitors must be accompanied and the explanation is given verbally as a means of safeguarding their Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is in line with Article 13 d (ii) of ensuring access to the intangible cultural heritage while respecting customary practices governing access to specific aspects of such heritage. All visitors to the Kayas observe the traditions and practices including taboos, such as not to wear shoes, not to sing unless invited and not to damage any vegetation. Inventorying and documentation of the element can only be done in consultation with the Mijikenda communities and the traditions and practices that are confined to the elders are not disclosed to outsiders. This is aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education, as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage. For these reasons, it is time to reflect on intangible cultural heritage safeguarding efforts of the Mijikenda at present and to think about the potential for the future.