Africa at large: A Shot in the arm for Kiswahili language

The East African Standard (Kenya), 14. July 2002

By Prof Kimani Njogu

Kiswahili is now an official language of the African Unity. The Council of
African Union (AU) has overwhelmingly supported a proposal presented by the
Tanzanian delegation that Kiswahili becomes one of the working languages of
the Union. This is indeed a landmark decision in support of African
languages. Chakita-Kenya (Chama cha Kiswahili cha Taifa) commends the
Council for this important move. The decision to make Kiswahili an official
language of the AU means that we are on the route to recognising this East
African language as the language of continental identity and economic
transformation.

It is also a challenge to the Kenya Government to move fast and establish a
National Kiswahili Council, through an Act of Parliament, following the
unanimous passing of a Motion to start the National Languages Council in
April 2000. Kenya is the birthplace of Kiswahili and we should not give away
our baby. The Constitution of Kenya Review Commission should also pave the
way through a clear stipulation of the place of Kiswahili and other Kenyan
languages in national development.

The decision to elevate Kiswahili to the continental level is equally a
challenge to our public universities to launch an Institute of Kiswahili
Research. Such an institute would be central in the harmonisation and
development of new terminology. The decision will surely lead to more
countries teaching Kiswahili and this will open important avenues for
economic activity.

(Prof Kimani Njogu is the Chairman of Chakita-Kenya.)