Kisii University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. John Akama has lauded the Ministry of Education (MoE) for incorporating vernacular languages in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking at Kisii University during the launch of the ‘Enchengeri’, a dictionary for the Ekegusii language, he said that the move will enable learners especially those in pre-primary classes to learn their mother tongue and culture.
He asked scholars to write teaching books in vernacular languages to enable teachers implement the curriculum effectively.
Prof. Akama, who is an accomplished scholar and author, asked the Abagusii to embrace their mother tongue and keep their culture alive by preserving their traditions and heritage for future generations.
He said that the dictionary is one of its own kind as it gives the reader a clear understanding of the language.
However, the dictionary is not the first one of the language. Dr. Jane Obuchi and her colleague Orina wrote another dictionary titled ‘Endabasia ya Ekegusii’.
Citing the Swahili saying ‘Mwacha mila ni mtumwa’ (he who leaves his culture is a slave), Akama noted that his main objective of writing the dictionary, that took him 10 years to complete, was to preserve the Gusii culture.
“Our culture connects us to our roots and helps us to understand and identify our sense of belonging,” he said.
Prof. Akama was accompanied by the Abagusii Council of Elders led by Ekegusii language expert Mr. Maoto Nyamoko.
He lauded the scholar and asked the community to support efforts towards preserving their language through individual campaigns adding that its survival was a collective responsibility.
The VC promised to continue writing when he retires from active tutorage saying it was his call.
He appealed to the Abagusii to read his published books such as Undettered and The Untold Story of Otenyo among other books which he said have a rich cultural heritage for the community.
By Enock Okong’o
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