By CHARLES LWANGAMore by this AuthorThe thick baobab trees, two remnants of mosques and a number of tombs at the Mnarani Ruins in Kilifi are a favourite attraction. The cool breeze blowing from the Indian Ocean and the scenic, peaceful, beautiful garden at Mnarani ruins, a Swahili settlement dating back to 13th century, makes it the perfect place to relax, meditate or pray. “The Wagalla attacked the ancient Swahili settlement, burnt it down and raided their cattle to establish their rule in the region.”The ruins were gazetted in March 1929. Some scholars see the existence of a slave market at Mitsangoni Koni and Takaungu in Kilifi as evidence that Mnarani ruins, part of the Old Kilifi Town, was attacked for being involved in the slave trade. Interestingly, the inscriptions on the tombs and the mosques here are written in Persian language, suggesting that the early settlers in Mnarani were Persians from Oman.

Source: Daily Nation April 25, 2019 04:41 UTC