Community Perception of Cultural Identity of Heritage Sites for Determining Local Participation in their Management and Conservation: The Case of Thimlich Ohinga and Seme-Kaila in Kenya

The study investigated the significance of cultural identity of prehistoric settlements in establishing community participation in their conservation and management for ecotourism promotion. This was accomplished using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as, content analysis. The research employed value theory to interpret the data and provide clarity of the research findings. The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between community perception of cultural identity of the sites and community participation in their conservation and management for ecotourism promotion. High level of community perception of cultural identity of Thimlich Ohinga indicates high community participation in the conservation and management of the site. Low level of community perception of cultural identity of Seme-Kaila shows low community participation in the conservation and management of the site. KEY WORDS: Cultural identity, community perception, community participation, management, conservation, heritage site