Related documents
LAWS OF KENYA
NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE ACT
CAP. 216
- Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. CVIII—No. 66 on 15 September 2006
- Assented to on 23 August 2006
- Commenced on 8 September 2006
- [Revised by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]
- [Amended by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act No. 19 of 2023) on 11 December 2023]
Part I – PRELIMINARY
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Museums and Heritage Act.2. Interpretation
Part II – ESTABLISHMENT, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA
3. Establishment of the National Museums of Kenya
There is established a body corporate to be known as the National Museums of Kenya with perpetual succession and a common seal and which shall be capable in its corporate name of—4. Functions of National Museums
The National Museums shall—5. Powers of the National Museums
6. Board of Directors
7. Tenure of office
8. Termination of appointment of the chairperson and members of the Board
The appointment of the chairperson or member of the Board may be terminated by the Cabinet Secretary, if the chairperson or member—9. Disclosure of interest by chairperson and members of the Board
10. Meetings of the Board
11. Delegation by the Board
The Board may, by resolution generally or in any particular case, delegate to any committee of the Board the exercise of any of the powers or the performance of any of the functions or duties of the Board under this Act.12. Protection from personal liability
Subject to section 13, no matter or thing done by a member of the Board or agent of the Board shall, if the matter or thing is done bona fide for executing the functions, powers and duties of the Board under this Act, render the member, or agent or any person acting on their directions personally liable to any action, claim or demand whatsoever.13. Liability of the Board in contract and tort
The provisions of section 12 shall not relieve the Board of the liability in tort or contract, to pay compensation or damages to any person for any injury to him, his property or any of his interests caused by the exercise of any power conferred by this Act, or any other written law.14. The Director-General
15. Staff
The Board may appoint such officers and staff as are necessary for the proper discharge of the functions of the National Museums under this Act upon such terms and conditions of service as the Board may determine.16. Appointment of advisory committees
17. National Museums to undertake research, etc.
The National Museums may, so far as its financial and other resources permit, undertake research and conduct other activities of scientific, cultural, technological or human interest by means of lectures, exhibits, tours or publications.Part III – FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
18. Funds of the National Museums
The funds of the National Museums shall comprise—19. Financial year
The Financial Year of the National Museums shall be the period of twelve months ending on thirtieth June in every year.20. Annual estimates
21. Investment of funds
The Board may invest any of the funds of the National Museums in securities in which for the time being trustees may by law invest funds or in any other securities which the Treasury may from time to time approve for that purpose.22. Restriction on loans to Board member and staff
The National Museums may not grant to a member of the Board or staff any loan or advance, or arrange any credit facility for the member except with regulations made by it under this section and approved by the Treasury.23. Accounts and audit
24. Annual report
Part IV – HERITAGE DECLARATIONS
25. Declaration of monuments, etc.
26. Registers
The National Museums shall maintain a register or registers of—Part V – SEARCHES AND DISCOVERIES
27. Exploration licences
28. Conditions and forms of exploration licence
An exploration licence—29. Entry onto land under exploration licence
30. Notification of discovery
Where a person discovers a monument or object of archaeological or palaeontological interest, the person shall, within seven days, give notice thereof, indicating the precise site and circumstances of the discovery, to the National Museums, and in the case of an object, shall deliver the object to the National Museums or to the District Commissioner to keep it for any particular purpose or for any particular period.31. Restriction on moving objects
Subject to section 27, no person shall move a monument or object of archaeological or palaeontological interest from the place where it has been discovered otherwise than in such manner and to such place as may be allowed by an exploration licence, or by written permit from the Cabinet Secretary after consultation with the National Museums.32. Offences
A person who—Part VI – PROTECTED AREAS
33. Where protected area is Trust land
A protected area or part thereof which is an area of Trust land may be set aside as such in accordance with the provisions of section 118 of the Constitution.34. Control of access, etc., to protected area
The Cabinet Secretary may, in respect of a protected area, from time to time—35. Compensation to owner of land in protected area
36. Offences
A person who—Part VII – MONUMENTS
37. Inspection and repair of monuments
A heritage warden, or any other person authorized in writing by the National Museums, may at any reasonable time—38. Acquisition of monuments and antiquities
The National Museums may purchase or take on lease or accept a gift or bequest of a monument or antiquity.39. Guardianship of monuments
40. Agreements for protection or preservation of monuments
41. Enforcement of agreements for protection of monuments
42. Compulsory purchase of monuments
If the Cabinet Secretary considers that a monument is in danger of being destroyed, injured or allowed to fall into decay, he may acquire the monument by way of compulsory purchase under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act (Cap. 295) but that power shall not be exercised—43. Duties of National Museums to protect and maintain monuments
44. Power of National Museums to relinquish rights over monuments
Subject to the conditions of any instrument or other transaction, the National Museums may—45. Offences
Part VIII – ANTIQUITIES AND PROTECTED OBJECTS
46. Antiquities property of Government
47. Information concerning antiquities and protected objects
A person shall, if so required in writing by the National Museums, within such period, not being less than one month as may be specified by the notice, furnish the National Museums with full particulars of all objects in the person’s possession which the person knows or has reason to believe to be antiquities or protected objects.48. Prohibition of removal of antiquities and protected objects
The Cabinet Secretary may after consultation with the National Museums, by notice in the Gazette, prohibit removal, without a permit from the Cabinet Secretary, of a specified antiquity or protected object, or of a specified class or type thereof respectively, from the place where the antiquity or protected object or class or type thereof is then situated.49. Prohibition of sales, etc., of antiquities and protected objects
50. Compulsory acquisition of antiquities and protected objects
51. Offences
A person who—Part IX – EXPORT
52. Conditions relating to export
53. Notice to Cabinet Secretary to acquire by compulsory purchase
54. Export through Customs port of entry
No monument or part thereof, antiquity or protected object shall be removed from Kenya otherwise than through a Customs port of entry; and the relevant export permit, or a copy of the relevant exploration licence certified by or on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary or the National Museums, as the case may be, shall be surrendered to a Customs officer before removal from Kenya is effected or allowed.55. Offences
A person who—Part X – POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT
56. Inspection by the National Museums
57. Heritage wardens
58. Power of heritage wardens to inspect
A heritage warden may at any reasonable time inspect an antiquity or protected object which is the subject of a notice under section 48, and may for that purpose with written authority from the National Museums enter premises, where the antiquity or protected object is or should be, and require the production of the antiquity or protected object or information as to its whereabouts.59. Power of arrest
A police officer or heritage warden may—60. Power of customs officers
A customs officer may at any time without warrant search anything intended to be removed from Kenya, or any person intending to leave Kenya, if the officer reasonably suspects that thing or person of containing or carrying a monument or part thereof, or an antiquity or protected object, and seize anything which the officer believes to be a monument or part thereof or antiquity or protected object that is in process of being removed from Kenya contrary to section 52 or section 54, together with any container thereof.61. Forfeiture to Government after seizure
62. Notices
The National Museums may attach to or erect on a monument or protected area such notice or notices as it deems necessary for the better protection of the monument or protected area.63. Offences
A person who—Part XI – GENERAL
64. Burden of proof
In any proceedings under this Act, where the Cabinet Secretary has certified in writing that in his opinion, on the advice of the National Museums, a thing is a monument, an object of archaeological or palaeontological interest, an object of historical interest or a protected object, as the case may be, the burden of proof shall lie upon any person who asserts the contrary.65. Exemption from stamp duty
An instrument or agreement executed under this Act shall be exempt from stamp duty chargeable under the Stamp Duty Act (Cap. 480).66. Rules
After consultation with the Board, the Cabinet Secretary may make rules for carrying out any of the purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing for all or any of the following purposes—67. Licensing of museums
68. Regulations
The Cabinet Secretary may, on the advice of the National Museums, make Regulations—69. [Spent]
70. [Spent]
Part XII – MISCELLANEOUS
71. [Spent]
72. [Spent]
73. [Spent]
74. [Spent]
75. [Spent]
76. [Spent]
77. [Spent]
78. [Spent]
79. [Spent]
80. [Spent]
81. [Spent]
History of this document
11 December 2023 this version
31 December 2022
Revised by
24th Annual Supplement
Read this version
15 September 2006
08 September 2006
Commenced
23 August 2006
Assented to
Cited documents 5
Act 4
1. | Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act | 1128 citations |
2. | Stamp Duty Act | 153 citations |
3. | Copyright Act | 113 citations |
4. | Registration of Business Names Act | 27 citations |
Legal Notice 1
1. | The National Environmental Tribunal Procedure Rules | 5 citations |
Documents citing this one 80
Gazette 56
Judgment 15
Bench Bulletin 3
1. | Bench Bulletin - Issue 15 | |
2. | Bench Bulletin - Issue 45 | |
3. | Bench Bulletin - Issue 9 |
Bill 3
1. | The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2016 | |
2. | The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2022 | |
3. | The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2022 |
Legal Notice 2
1. | The Statutory Instruments (Exemption from Expiry) Regulations | 1 citation |
2. | The Statutory Instruments (Exemption from Expiry) Regulations |
Act 1
1. | Physical and Land Use Planning Act | 463 citations |
Subsidiary legislation
Title
|
Date
|
|
---|---|---|
The National Museums and Heritage (Admission Fees) Regulations | Legal Notice 167 of 2009 | 31 December 2022 |
The National Museums and Heritage (Exploration Licenses and Export Permits) Rules | Legal Notice 110 of 2009 | 31 December 2022 |
The National Museums and Heritage (Antiquities Dealers) (Licensing) Rules | Legal Notice 36 of 2009 | 31 December 2022 |
The National Museums (Open Spaces and Areas of National Heritage) (Protection and Management) Rules | Legal Notice 35 of 2009 | 31 December 2022 |
Confirmation of Sites and Monuments | Legal Notice 128 of 2008 | 31 December 2022 |
The Loyangalani Desert Museum (Admission Fees) Rules | Legal Notice 127 of 2008 | 31 December 2022 |
The Uhuru Garden Historical Site (Car Entry) Fees Rules | Legal Notice 116 of 2008 | 31 December 2022 |
The National Museums and Heritage (Private Museums) (Licensing) Regulations | Legal Notice 65 of 2008 | 31 December 2022 |