We should have seen it coming; with
the whirlwind that devolution is stirring, it is safe to expect weird
proposals. Some, like the call for counties to revert to vernacular
languages (Nation, August 13), are outrageous.
The
other day legislators in Kakamega attempted to sneak in Luhya dialects
for use in the County Assembly. Forward thinking Kenyans rubbished this
aspiration with the contempt it deserves.
On Tuesday,
Dr Ogone John Obiero opined that county governments should recognise
vernacular languages as official. In the article, “Make mother tongue
official in counties,” Obiero argues this will enhance development,
given the fact that 80 per cent of Kenyans speak a vernacular language.
According
to Dr Obiero, “in some cases, several counties can use the same mother
tongue”. Yet this is far-fetched. Any reader would expect the lecturer
to recognise the precarious relationship amongst various communities in
Kenya.
Historically, Kenyan communities have never
been cohesive. Suspicions amongst ethnic communities are a reality.
Attempting to extol vernacular languages in certain counties would
dampen any efforts towards unity.
Having Kalenjin as
the official language in Bomet, Kericho, Uasin-Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet,
Nandi and Nakuru counties will not go down well with the Asians, Ogiek,
Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba, Kisii, Luhya and Maasai living in these counties.
Turning
vernacular languages into languages for transacting official business
will entrench tribalism. When people are proud of what they do as an
ethnic group, danger looms.Cultural superiority easily
breeds prejudice. With an environment in which some communities
perceive others as inferior, development cannot take root. Instead, it
stirs a quagmire.
Language is powerful in transmitting
culture. Bundling people from different cultural backgrounds together
in a single native language is unfair. It breeds dissent.
How
will counties interact when they have different official languages?
Take business documents penned in different languages crossing from one
county to the other.
Unless the counties set aside
funds to translate the contents of the documents, counties will not be
able to interact. How do you say mitochondria in your native language?
Methinks
that Kenya should strive towards global relevance. International
languages make it easy to interact with any county. That we require
vernacular to participate in governance is careless.
PIUS MAUNDU, Eldoret
PIUS MAUNDU, Eldoret
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