Rock Paintings and Engravings in Suba Region along the Eastern Shores of Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

The subject of rock art elicits a lot of interests. Although the Trust for African Rock (TARA) Project has conducted research in this field across some parts of the country, not much of has been conducted about rock paintings and engravings on the Eastern Shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Previous research involved a general survey of the region but less emphasis was put on mapping of rock art in the study area. This article gives an indepth analysis of their origin and meaning of these cultural heritage resources that are potential ecotourism destinations in Western Kenya. The aims of this study include interrogating various site feature paintings, classifying the rock art and provision of critical ethnographic accounts related to the cultural heritage based on oral reconstruction. Phenomenological and ethnographic modes of data collection alongside visual inspection was employed during the study. Content Analysis was used to develop meanings and values of the rock art paintings. Value Theory was significant in the interpretation of the data collected. Finally, the study contextualizes the rock paintings and engravings within the East African context.