National Museums of Kenya

Where Heritage Lives on

Songhor

Geographical Location and Historical Background

The site is situated in Nyando District, Nyanza Province. The site was gazzetted in 1982. It is 78 acres in area. It is a Miocene site dating back to about 19 million years ago. There were a large variety of animals living there. The fossil hominoids collected from this site range from small to bigger apes. Eight species of hominoids have been identified. There is enough evidence that the proconsul africanus also lived at this site.

The new survey (2000) that was carried out by the National Museums of Kenya altered the boundary of the site. Complaints have been put forward that the survey should be done again. On one side, we have lost our land while on the other hand; the locals have lost their land to us. The locals want to be compensated for the loss if another survey cannot be done.

Open Daily at 8:00am – 6:00pm.