Garissa hosts its first cultural festival, celebrating diversity and unity

Garissa County on Saturday hosted its first-ever cultural festival, bringing together diverse communities to celebrate and showcase their rich heritage.

The event, themed “Celebrating Timeless Traditions Woven in Unity”, highlighted the artistic, historical, and social aspects of various cultures, fostering intercultural understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s many ethnic groups.

Communities that participated included the Somali, Borana, Maasai, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Mijikenda, Meru, Kamba, Aweir, Teso, Luhya, Munya Yaya, Waliwana, Arabs, and Kisii, among others.

Mariamu Bini, a dancer from the Aweir community—a minority group from Bodhai in Ijara constituency—was among those who had the opportunity to share their traditions.

"I am happy today. This occasion offers a platform to showcase our culture. Many people may not have heard of the Aweir community, but today, they will learn about us," she said.

The Aweir community presented a traditional dance, including a demonstration of their ancestral hunting techniques.

The chief guest, Mustafa Muhumed Omar, President of the Somali Region of Ethiopia, praised the uniqueness of the event, saying it reflected the diverse heritage of Kenya’s communities.

"I thought Garissa was home only to Somali culture, but today I witnessed the rich traditions of many Kenyan communities living here," he remarked.

He commended participants for preserving their cultural identity, calling it vital for maintaining historical roots and promoting unity. He also noted the cultural similarities shared between communities in northern Kenya and those across the border in Ethiopia, encouraging investment and partnership between the regions.

Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Hannah Cheptumo, described the festival as a powerful demonstration of how communities are preserving their cultures regardless of where they live in the country.

"Through this event, we have demonstrated our diverse cultural heritage and unity as Kenyan communities," she said.

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She announced that the government plans to establish a Garissa Cultural Heritage Centre, which will serve as a hub for cultural exchange and community engagement.

However, she also urged pastoralist communities to abandon harmful cultural practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which continues to affect girls in some regions.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale called on the people of Garissa to uphold unity and shun divisive politics. He also praised the celebration of shared identities displayed during the event.

Garissa Governor Nathif Jama said the event, the first of its kind in the county, would become an annual festival aimed at promoting intercultural understanding and boosting tourism in the future.

Other leaders in attendance who commended the event included Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Vihiga Senator Asosti Atieno, and Principal Secretary for Culture Ummi Bashir.

Also present were Garissa MP Dekow Barrow, Mandera East MP Hussein Witan, Jubbaland Vice President Mohamud Sayid, Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya Jibril Ibrahim, and former Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

The festival concluded with vibrant displays of a camel race and a boat race, capping off a day of cultural celebration and unity.