The footprints are 1.5 million years old, but they have finally found a modern guardian. The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) has officially handed over the Ileret Footprint Site to the Marsabit County Government, entrusting the local community with one of the world’s most significant archaeological treasures.

Located on the shores of Lake Turkana, the site contains the second-oldest human footprints in the world, evidence of Homo erectus walking upright. The NMK has installed a protective canopy and a visitor center to shield the fragile fossils from wind and rain. "This is not just dust; it is our origin story," said Dr. Purity Kiura, Chief Research Scientist.

Community Custodians

The handover empowers the local Daasanach community to manage the site as a tourism asset. Women’s groups have been trained to make beadwork for visitors, turning prehistory into present-day livelihoods. It is a model of heritage management that puts the "Cradle of Mankind" back in the hands of its people.