Director of Culture in the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage Dr. Kiprop Lagat has urged the Kipsigis Community to avail historical and traditional religious knowledge for documentation to avoid its extinction.
Speaking during the launch of the Indigenous Knowledge Documentation and Digitization (IKDoDi) project in Kericho County, Dr. Lagat said that through the Natural Products Industry (NPI) initiative, the Ministry has been piloting Phase 1 of the IKDoDi programme in thirteen counties – Garissa, Kakamega, Kericho, Kilifi, Kisii, Makueni, Marsabit, Muranga, Kisii, Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana and Vihiga.
Additionally, Kericho comes sixth in the countrywide roll-out of the exercise.
He noted that the Kipsigis community, with its 196 clans spread across various counties and diaspora, possesses a wealth of unique cultural elements including gender-influencing indigenous technologies, local cuisines like the famed ‘mursik’, and captivating heritage sites.
The IKDoDi project, a partnership involving state agencies, county governments and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) aligns with Kenya’s ‘Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions Act 2016 (TK & CE Act 2016).’
The project coordinator Dr. Taracha Evans highlighted a distinctive Indigenous Knowledge Management System, which will serve as an Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Bank, fostering lawful access and utilization of indigenous knowledge assets while preventing bio piracy.
He further explained that the project resonates with international commitments and conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nagoya Protocol, WIPO, and UNESCO, which have been integrated into Kenya’s Constitution of 2010.
This constitutional recognition of culture emphasizes equitable sharing of benefits through legally binding contracts like Prior Informed Consent and Mutually Agreed Terms.
A Prior Informed Consent Agreement was signed between the Kipsigis Culture, Heritage & Restoration, the County Government of Kericho, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Ministry at the event.
The CECM for Education, Culture, Library and Social Services Judith Chirchir thanked the national government for building the capacity of the counties and local communities and initiating pilot programs towards the long term goal.
“We thank the Ministry for supporting the capacity building, training and recruitment of 390 young-champions-for-culture as data enumerators and purchase of high-tech ICT equipment for the 13 counties under phase 1,” she said.
As nearly all 13 counties have incorporated the IKDoDi project into their development plans, the rollout continues, culminating in the commissioning of the Indigenous Knowledge Innovation Bank.
An investment conference and trade fair are also in the pipeline to promote these indigenous knowledge assets to the marketplace, unlocking their full potential.
By Benedict Ngetich
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