By Marline Atieno
Kenya is making extensive preparations to host the World Kiswahili Day for the first time this year.
On June 5, Aisha Jumwa, the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, established a 17-member National Organising Committee to organize the third World Kiswahili Day celebrations.
The celebrations will take place from July 5 to 7.
The celebrations will feature various events with World Kiswahili Day on July 7 being the main highlight.
It will bring together linguists, scholars and cultural enthusiasts from across the globe.
The minister mentioned that President William Ruto is anticipated to be the main guest during the festivities, which are set to take place in Mombasa.
Ms. Jumwa stated, “Kenya has been given the privilege to host this year’s celebrations. We need to make the required arrangements and prove to those who suggested our name that they made the correct decision.”
She added, “I will ensure that the necessary funds are provided to ensure everything runs seamlessly.”
World Kiswahili Day, celebrated annually, aims to promote the Kiswahili language and its global significance.
As one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, Kiswahili serves as a unifying medium of communication in the East African region and beyond.
The Cabinet secretary mentioned that as a result of the historic events, there would be the establishment of a National Kiswahili-Speaking Day.
This special day would require every Kenyan, including the President, judges, civil servants and teachers to communicate only in Kiswahili.
The East African Community (EAC) announced last year during the World Kiswahili Day celebrations that Kenya would host this year’s events.
The regional celebrations of the second World Kiswahili Day occurred in Kampala, Uganda, in 2023.
The inaugural event was held in Zanzibar and was presided over by President Hussein Ali Mwinyi.
This took place a year after the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Paris, France, declared July 7 as the World Kiswahili Language Day.
Regarding the establishment of the National Kiswahili Council, which has been pending since the Cabinet approved it in 2014, Ms. Jumwa mentioned that the bill is at an advanced stage.