Kenya is considering establishing a national Kiswahili-Speaking Day as part of its efforts to promote the language, CS in charge of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Aisha Jumwa has said.
“In Kenya, we are discussing the possibility of designating a special day, possibly the 7th of July, when every Kenyan, including the President, judges, civil servants, and teachers, will be expected to speak exclusively in Kiswahili," she said.
Jumwa revealed that Kenya was in the final stages of establishing the National Swahili Council to develop specific strategies, methods, and policies needed to promote and develop the language in the country.
This is in addition to collaborating with national and private actors involved in the development of the Swahili language.
This is aimed at promoting and celebrating the language's rich cultural heritage and fostering its unifying impact across the region.
Delivering the keynote address during the official opening session of the 2nd East African Kiswahili Commission International Conference in Mombasa, the CS urged East Africans to be proactive in developing Kiswahili and other African languages to enhance their global competitiveness.
“Kiswahili is spoken by over 200 million people worldwide. This demonstrates that our efforts to promote the language are yielding results and we should continue to advance these efforts,” she stated.
The two-day conference precedes the 3rd EAC World Kiswahili Language Day marked on Sunday, July 7.
The three-day celebrations aimed at exploring the role of Kiswahili and multilingual education in fostering a culture of peace.
EAKC Executive Secretary, Caroline Asiimwe, said the conference aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, research evidence, best practices, experiences and perspectives on the role of Kiswahili education in enhancing a culture of peace.
“Kiswahili is not just a language of communication; it is fundamental to building our society, nations, and the EAC region. The issues discussed at the conference and the recommendations made will be crucial for the Commission to consider and implement in contributing to coordinated efforts to use Kiswahili for sustainable development in the EAC,” Asiimwe said.
“Peace is the foundation of development, and Kiswahili is also a pillar of development. It is encouraging that Kiswahili has been adopted as an official or national language in most EAC partner states and is being taught at various levels of the school system,” she added.
Speaking at the event, president of the East African Court of Justice, Nestor Kayobera, emphasised the importance for officials of partner states’ governments and EAC organs and institutions to consistently uphold the provisions of the community's Treaty in the execution of their duties.
Justice Kayobera reiterated that strict adherence to the Treaty is essential to preventing unnecessary legal disputes before the EACJ, noting the significant financial resources spent on compensating aggrieved parties due to its violations.
EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana expressed optimism about the future global prevalence of Kiswahili.
“To achieve regional cooperation, unity, socioeconomic development and prosperity, it is essential to strengthen our interactions through the use of a common language,” Ntakirutimana said.
The Speaker called on partner states ministers of EAC Affairs and other stakeholders to advocate for the adoption of Kiswahili as an official language across the region.
"Kiswahili is poised to transcend borders, becoming a universal language spoken across continents. This would signify a significant milestone for East Africa," Ntakirutimana said.