By Nikko Tanui

In this forsaken area in Turkana, lies a gem in the country’s history. The world turned its attention to the area, Fort Ternan, in 1961 when Dr Louis Leakey discovered the fossil of “a very early ancestor of man himself”, Kenyapithecus Wickeri, estimated to have lived 14 million years.

Fifty years later, this historic find, which bears great importance to mankind, has not changed the area’s fortunes.

In fact, unless someone mentions it, you will never know its history.

A rugged structure and grass-thatched hut stand in a place where a modern museum should be standing if this gem were in another country.

There is no signpost on the road to show the direction to the site, or a building to house Kenyapithecus Wickeri’s  upper jaw and teeth, which are said to resemble modern-looking teeth.

Footpath

“Until a few months ago, there was not even a rough road to the site but a footpath,” laments Ezekiel Sionkok, who is the chairman of Fort Ternan Prehistoric site.

After waiting for years for something to be done to exploit the historic finding for the benefit of area residents, the people have now asked the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture to build a museum and return the fossil to the site where it was originally found. Currently, the relics are preserved at the Kisumu Museum, which is under the National Museums of Kenya.

“Kenyan students learn about the discovery of the fossil in Fort Ternan but when they come to the ground, there is no sign that something of great historic and archaeological importance was discovered here.

Worse, the local community is not benefiting in any way from the site,” says area resident, David Kipngeny.

Where it belongs

Siongok believes a museum for the fossil is long overdue.

“We can build a museum here for Kenyapithecus.  This is where it belongs. He needs to come back home,” says Sionkok.

The only fossils displayed in the thatched structure in the prehistoric site, which is 3km from Fort Ternan trading centre, are stones and bones, which are said to date 200 years.

“Experts say the bones of the relics belong to elephants indicating that elephants used to roam the area,” says  Jared Maladi Tuda, the site caretaker.

Tuda says he has heard that some researchers will be on site next year and he hopes they will find additional fossils to present a stronger case for a museum.

“We are pleading with area residents not to destroy the site through human activities such as felling of trees, grazing or farming activities,” Tuda says.

The locals say construction of a museum at the site  will also go towards preserving other artefacts of cultural and historic importance of the Rift valley residents.

“We have since requested our community members as well as our neighbours to bring   cultural artefacts and other items of historic importance they could be having in their possession to help us display for the general public,” says Sionkok.

Ideal place

Apart from the site being an ideal place for archeological research, it’s also rich in flora and fauna.

The site, which sits on a 12-acre piece of land on a rugged slope overlooking Fort Ternan trading centre — which is just 75km from Kisumu — also has indigenous trees and a variety of birds.

The residents’ are optimistic that once the Kisumu- Londiani Road, which is under construction is completed, the site will be a stopover for travellers, visitors and tourists.

Schools will also head there as they take students for geography or history tours.

“This will definitely open up the site — and the locals’ fortunes,” says Sionkok.

Although coming late in the day, all signs indicate that Kenyapithecus’ home will gradually get the attention it deserves.