Mystery over the missing ‘Millennium Man’ deepens

By Alex Kiprotich

When a team of scientists found a hominid in Tugen Hills in 2000, local researchers celebrated given the significance of the fossil in the history of man’s evolution.

Palaeontologists worldwide focused on the fossil, Orrorin tugenensis, which was touted to be the second-oldest known hominid ancestor related to the modern humans.

But nine years after the discovery of the fossil dating seven million years, its whereabouts remain unclear.

Even the National Museum of Kenya (NMK), the national custodian of natural and cultural heritage, does not know where it is. Community Museum of Kenya (CMK) is said to have taken the fossil away.

The head of department of Earth Sciences at the NMK Emma Mbua says they do not know where the fossil is. She claimed the director of CMK Eustace Gitonga left with the fossil instead of giving it to the NMK.

"It is perplexing because such a discovery is of great importance to the country and research but an individual has hidden it," she says.

Ms Mbua says many scientists have been visiting the museum to see the fossil and possibly learn more about it.

The fossil, she adds, has generated much interest because it is touted to have lived near the time when genetic analyses suggest our oldest hominid ancestor split from the ancestor of the great apes.

She says scientists believe further study on the fossil could answer the proverbial ‘missing link’ on human evolution. The latest scientist to be turned away by the NMK is Prof Tim White from University of California at Berkley.

"Several scientists have come to see the fossil and conduct more studies but leave disappointed," she says.

‘Safe’ in a bank

According to NMK, apart from the researchers, who discovered the fossil at Tugen Hills in Baringo District, no other scientist has seen nor conducted tests on it for comparison.

Palaentologists led by Martin Pickford and Brigitte Senut from France named the hominid. Ms Mbua says the hominid is a national heritage and must be reclaimed.

"It is very worrying when such treasure is not in its rightful place and there is a possibility someone could be keeping it to secure funding," she quips. "Being the only discovered fossil at the site, Orrorin tugenensis is very expensive," she adds.

Pickford, the lead scientist in the research, says via email the last time he saw the fossil was in 2003. He claimed the agreement with Gitonga was that the fossil would be kept at Kipsaraman Museum, which was funded by the French Government.

"The original fossils of Orrorin and quite a few other specimens are in the custody of Mr Gitonga. He insisted that he would keep them in Nairobi until secure storage facilities were constructed in the Tugen Hills, whereupon he would hand them back to the community for permanent storage, as per the agreement that was made at the time. However, he did not honour it and we do not know where he has kept it," he said.

World-class expedition

Pickford said Gitonga alleged he was keeping the fossils in a safe deposit box in a bank in Nairobi but did not allow them to access it.

"We even paid the bank safe deposit fees, sometimes. But we were never allowed to join him to examine the fossils — he would always bring them to the office. The last time I saw the fossils was in 2003 in Nairobi, and some colleagues from America saw them about this time, too," he claims in his email.

Mr William Kimosop, a researcher in Baringo, said the region stood to be recognised as a scientific laboratory as the discovery was a pointer the area could have had formation beds dating 16 million years ago.

"With the discovery, the region would be turned into world-class expedition where varsities and research centres would be based," he says.

Kenyans must be told how such a treasure could be left in the custody of individuals while the law is clear on where it should be kept, Kimosop charges.

"This is a natural resource and should be returned to the NMK, which is the sole custodian of all local fossils," he adds.

Kimosop claims it some individuals could have used the fossil, also known as "the millennium man", for commercial gains.

Baringo residents, where the fossil was found, are demanding details of the whereabouts of the hominid to be made public.

"We do not know where it was taken to and the community is in the dark having lost its jewel," says Charles Kamuren, a resident.

Mr Kamuren adds that the residents were duped into giving out the precious find.

"We were told it was being taken to a university for some research and we have never seen it again," he says.

Area MP William Cheptumo says CMK took advantage of the locals’ ignorance to take the fossil away.

Cheptumo, who is also the Assistant Minister for Justice, says the treasure should be returned to NMK for safekeeping.

Cultural resource

"The fossil has both historical and economic importance, thus efforts must be made to ensure it is safely kept," he adds.

The Standard on Sunday visited the NSSF Building where CMK offices are said to be located, but could not find one Mr Gitonga. The office line in the directory is not operational.

Two months ago, Gitonga assured he had kept the fossil in a safe vault in a Nairobi bank.

"I have kept it in a bank in Nairobi and I am the only one with the key to it," he said.

Ms Mbua says the fossil should be returned for more studies. Pickford, too, says the fossil is a valuable scientific and cultural resource, which should be in a public display.

"The fossil is part of the natural heritage of the Tugen community. It enriches scientific research and should not be stored in a bank," he quips.