Kenya set to host World Kiswahili Day celebrations for the first time

Kenya will be hosting the Kiswahili Day celebrations for the first time since it was declared by the United Nations as the World Kiswahili Language Day in 2022.

During celebrations by the East African Community (EAC) to mark World Kiswahili Day last year, Kenya was named the host of this year's events.

The second World Kiswahili Day regional celebrations took place in Kampala, Uganda, in 2023.

Zanzibar hosted the inaugural event that was presided over by President Hussein Ali Mwinyi. That was a year after the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), sitting in Paris, France, declared July 7 the World Kiswahili Language Day.

Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa has formed a National Organising Committee, comprising 17 members, to arrange for the third World Kiswahili Day celebrations from July 5 to 7 this year.

The main events during the historic celebrations will include Usiku wa Mswahili, where the agenda will mainly revolve around how to promote it as the continent's foremost language.

President William Ruto is expected to be the chief guest during the celebrations that will be celebrated in the coastal city of Mombasa.

"Kenya has been granted the opportunity to host this year's celebrations. We must do the necessary preparations and convince those who proposed our name that they made the right choice," Jumwa said.

National Kiswahili-Speaking Day

According to her, one of the outcomes of the event would be the introduction of a National Kiswahili-Speaking Day in the country.

The Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja holds the EAC flag during the 2nd World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations in Kampala on July 7, 2023. (Photo: EAC)

"There'll be a special day set aside when every Kenyan, including the President, judges in courts, civil servants and teachers will be expected to speak exclusively in Kiswahili," Jumwa said.

On the establishment of the National Swahili Council, which has been delayed since the Cabinet gave the nod in 2014, Jumwa said the bill is at an advanced stage.

"It has taken a long time after being presented to the Office of the Attorney-General, but that is because the bill has to be translated into Kiswahili," she said.

Parliament has already passed a motion proposed by Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan to establish the National Swahili Council. The committee responsible is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the implementation procedures.

The motion seeks to have the government collaborate with national and private bodies in the country that are involved in the development of the Kiswahili language.

In a November 8, 2022 letter from Clerk of the National Assembly Serah Kioko, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage was directed through its Principal Secretary Josephat Mukobe to take note of the passage of the motion.

“The National Assembly by a resolution passed on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, approved a Motion sponsored by the Member of Parliament Constituency, the Hon. Abdi Yussuf Hassan, MP, resolving that National Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage establishes the National Swahili Council in Kenya and launch specific strategies, methods and policies needed to promote and develop Kiswahili in the Country and collaborate, with national and private bodies in the Country that are involved in the development of Kiswahili language,” the letter read.