A member of the Abasuba community has moved to court seeking government intervention to prevent the extinction of Olusuuba, an indigenous language he fears could disappear if urgent measures are not taken to preserve it.
Mark Obar Asuelaa has sued the Education Cabinet Secretary, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and the Attorney General, accusing the government of overlooking his community's linguistic heritage.
In his petition, Asuelaa argues that the Basic Education Curriculum Framework does not adequately recognise Olusuuba, leaving generations of Abasuba children without an opportunity to learn their ancestral language through formal education.
He further claims that UNESCO has identified the language as endangered, warning that its continued exclusion from the education system could accelerate its decline.
His concerns are backed by Abasuba Council of Elders Chairman Peter Ouma, who estimates that fewer than 10 per cent of community members speak Olusuuba fluently.
Petitioner seeks curriculum recognition
Asuelaa wants the court to declare the Abasuba a marginalised community and compel KICD to prioritise Olusuuba in the school curriculum, alongside other indigenous languages such as Gikuyu and Dholuo.
The petition comes amid longstanding concerns over the gradual loss of the language, with many Abasuba adopting Dholuo as their primary means of communication following years of cultural interaction and assimilation with neighbouring communities.
Efforts to reverse the trend have included cultural festivals and language preservation initiatives, but the petitioner now wants the government to play a more active role in safeguarding the community's linguistic identity.
His case also invokes Article 7 of the Constitution, which requires the State to promote and protect Kenya's linguistic diversity, including indigenous languages.
The petition places the survival of Olusuuba at the centre of a wider debate on the protection of minority cultures and the responsibility of the education system in preserving Kenya's indigenous heritage.
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