Scholars oppose move on Kiswahili language

Scholars have been angered by a decision to make Kiswahili an optional subject at the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) level.

Renowned Kiswahili researcher, Prof Ahmed Sheikh Nabhany, castigated Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) for such proposal, which according to him is unworkable at a time the language is growing faster globally.

The Kiswahili consultant noted that the Language is the only the element in uniting the polarized country especially after Kenyans turned against each other during 2007 post-election chaos.

“We will not allow this language to be optional in schools. Those with such ideas are enemies of the language and Kenyans will not allow them to achieve that goal,” said the Head of Research Institute of Swahili Studies of East Africa (RISSEA).

“Kiswahili is a language of East African community and such decision is tantamount to wreaking havoc in the integration cause,” he added.

Prof Nabhany appealed to fellow Kiswahili experts and the language fanatics to gang against such plan for betterment of the country saying the current crop of leadership have no legacy to be enjoyed by the country’s future generation.

Seven visiting University of London Kiswahili students also expressed surprise over the move to make Kiswahili an optional language for Kenyan children.

According to Mr Jason Taffs the idea will give room for foreign language to develop in the country where Kiswahili has had deep roots for several decades.

He said the language is becoming a political and business tool not only in East and Central Africa countries but several parts of Europe.

“Kenya is a country that has a bad reputation due to tribalism and post-election chaos and language can play crucial position in re-building the tarnished image,” he noted.

Another student, Mr John Jackson said they left their country for the sole reason of studying Kiswahili and it was amazing to see Kenya government making it optional in primary schools.

“Why do they want to make it optional and yet we are here to learn then teach children in Britain?” he asked.

The students of London University’s School Oriental and African studies cautioned the government over the decision saying Kenyans will forever regret over such policy matter.

Prof Nurdin Mwanakombo of Moi University department of Kiswahili termed the move as neo-colonialism, saying foreign languages will be given an upper over the lingua franca.

She told Nation on phone yesterday that the Association of Kiswahili lecturers in East Africa will decide what action to take if the government does  not suspend plans to make the language optional among KCPE candidates.

Veteran journalist, Mr Abdurahman Sheriff said the decision was made in bad faith at a  time when Kenyans want even the parliamentary secessions to be conducted in the national language Kiswahili to make the larger population understand its business.

“Kiswahili has created jobs for hundreds of East and Central Africa citizens working as university lecturers in Europe, Asia and other countries in Africa and fellow journalists working as reporters in Japan, China, Germany, US, Britain, Iran, Saudia Arabia among other countries. It is frightening to see Kenya government killing the language slowly,” he added.