WORKSOP ON INDIGENOUS LANGAUGES

 Writer  Francis  Ilahaka who is  also  acting  chairman of  Langata indigenous languages Association center  explain a point during capacity   building  workshop held  at Nyayo  house in  Nairobi on right  Mr Fred  Ojienda and  left Francis  Kamau


The government through department  of cultural had  embarked  on  promoting and  preserving  local languages
Speaking in  Nairobi  during the official  opening  of one  day  language capacity  building  Nairobi  County  director  of   cultural  Mr  Cyril  Mululu promised  that the  dept  will organize  series  of  workshops with  the   major   objective  of  creating  awareness on  the  importance  of   local  languages in  the  society
He  said  that  there  is  a need for  local  languages  among  them  Kiswahili  which  is  a national  language  to  be  used both  at   home,   place  of  work  and in  the day to day  business
Mululu  pointed  out  that in   order  for  cultural  to  be preserved  local  languages  should  be  used because   it   is  the  gate  way  way   for  knowledge  adding that  Countries around  the World   like   Japan  and    China  are   ahead  in  both   economy  and  development  because  they  use  local  languages
The  workshop  brought    together  cultural  groups  and   leaders   of writers association  from  Nairobi who  talked  about  the  importance  of  local  languages and  cultures which  is   threaten  by  Western  values,
They  said  that   in  order  for  local  cultures  and    languages  to    be  preserved Kenya  should start  using  them  at place  of  work as they  use  English  and  Kiswahili
At  the same  time  calls   for publication    of  books in  local languages  so  that  they  can  be used because  there  is  shortage  of  published  materials,  adding  that there   is  no  way  culture  and   languages  can  be  promoting without reading  materials  in  the  Country
While  calling on   Ministry  of education   to  re-introduce  local  languages  in  School they  warns  that  there  is   no  way  the  Country  can  move  ahead  without Kenyans  especially    youth  understand  our  culture.
.Among  topics on  the  line  up  included teaching of mother tongue in  learning Institutions,revitalization of  indigenous languages,  langauage  mapping among  others which  are  the key in  promoting  of  local  langauge  and culture  in  the  morden   society,
The  speakers  who  presented    papers   included  Fred  Ojienda, Kilonzi Onesmus director  of culture  C, Mululu  among  others who  are   experts  in  the subject
On  the  way  forward  leaders  of Nairobi indigenous  languages writers  agree  to  meet  now  and  then with  the  major   objective  of  attracting   more  members
In  his  papers revitalization of indigenous langauges Kilonzi  warns that  unless   action  is  taken some  local  government  may  perish because  nobody  is  nolonger  using  them.
The  opening  speech prepared   by  the  late  director  of  culture  Ms  G, Gatheru  who  passed  away  last  week  was read  by C  Mululu,  the  late  Gatheru  prepared  the  speech before  she  passed  away
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