Global Perspectives
Home to forty-three different ethnic groups, Kenya enjoys incredible ethnocultural and linguistic diversity. It was, therefore, necessary to adopt a common language to enable inter-ethnic communication.
Kenya is one of the world’s fifty-five countries with more than one official language. The constitution recognizes both English and Swahili, locally referred to as Kiswahili, as the official languages. Throughout most official communication in Kenya, you will find both languages. All major media stations broadcast national news in English and Swahili. The Kenyan national anthem is sung in both English and Swahili. The Kenyan constitution itself is available in both languages.
Swahili, however, is the national language and has been since 1970. Today, nearly all Kenyans speak Swahili making it the country’s most-spoken language. The development of the Swahili language dates back to contact between Arab traders and the coastal people of East Africa. Its use spread inland with time as it was considered the language of trade.
By the nineteenth century, when British colonialists introduced English in Kenya, Swahili was already widely used. The colonialists further promoted the use of Swahili through lower education and missionary work. English, however, was adopted as the language of administration, business, and higher education. English is currently the official language of instruction in the education system while Swahili is only taught as a subject. The presently estimated number of English-speakers in Kenyan is 30-50% of the population.
The proper English and Swahili taught and enforced in schools rarely find their way into daily social interaction. In most urban areas, especially among the youth, the more commonly spoken language is Sheng – a slang that borrows words from Swahili, English, and other local languages. Fluency in Sheng is considered a sign of street smarts among the urban youth. Credited as originating in lower-class parts of Nairobi City, Sheng has today spread across social classes. It has found its way into religious institutions, politics, and business. It’s not uncommon to hear a politician using Sheng on the campaign trail or to come across a product advertisement entirely in Sheng.
Learning English and Swahili has been fostered in the country at the expense of local languages. Until the late 20th century, Kenyan children would learn their indigenous languages alongside English and Swahili. Now only a few Kenyan youths can speak their respective indigenous languages. These local languages are deemed irrelevant to social, career, and economic advancement.
However, despite declining use, Kenya’s indigenous languages have a place in Kenya’s linguistic landscape. You will hear local languages spoken as you travel through smaller towns and villages in Kenya. The local language spoken in each region varies depending on the ethnic communities found there.
The government wanted indigenous languages used for instruction in lower primary schools after gaining independence in 1963. The unavailability of teaching materials meant that this was unimplemented. A rise in urbanization and inter-ethnic marriages made teaching in indigenous languages even more unattractive. In 2017, the newly rolled-out curriculum indicated plans to re-introduce teaching in indigenous languages. Several people lauded this directive, including Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, one of Kenya’s most famous writers. Nevertheless, there was just as much criticism from people who do not see the value of indigenous languages in today’s world.
Whether the re-introduction of indigenous languages in the education system will be successful remains to be seen. English and Swahili continue to thrive in the meantime. However, it is to English that the honor of prestige is reserved. The perception of English as the language of the upper class, a lasting influence of British colonial rule, persists to date. Many middle- and upper-class parents are now teaching their children English as a first language.
In addition to seeking proficiency in English as a mark of class and intelligence, Kenyans are becoming increasingly obsessed with acquiring British and American accents. Kenyans who speak English with ethnically-marked pronunciations are usually considered unintelligent and unrefined. The fixation with foreign accents is also present in Kenyan broadcast media. Many radio and television presenters use foreign-sounding accents at work.
Several Kenyan schools offer foreign languages as part of their curriculum. These include French, Spanish, German, Arabic, and Chinese, with French being the most studied foreign language. An article in the local Star Newspaper in 2020 estimated that there were 40,000 French students in Kenya. Embracing foreign languages is seen as a way to enhance career opportunities.
The choice of its two official languages greatly enhances Kenya’s investment climate. Swahili is one of the ten most spoken languages in the world and, in 2021, became the first African language to be feted by the UN. It is the most spoken language in Africa with over 200 million speakers spread across 14 countries. English, on its part, is spoken by 17% of the world’s population making it the most spoken language worldwide. Learning resources for these two languages are widely available online and offline.
Kenya
Language Data Factbook
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Read it nowSwahili
Kichwa. Kupoteza Utambulisho wa Nchi Katika Harakati za Utandawazi
Ikiwa ni nyumbani kwa makabila arobaini na tatu tofauti, Kenya inafurahia uanuwai wa ajabu wa kitamaduni na lugha. Hivyo basi ilikuwa ni lazima kupitisha lugha ya pamoja ili kuwezesha mawasiliano baina ya makabila.
Kenya ni mojawapo ya nchi hamsini na tano ulimwenguni ambazo zina zaidi ya lugha moja rasmi. Katiba inatambua Kiingereza na Kiswahili kama lugha rasmi. Katika mawasiliano mengi rasmi nchini Kenya, utapata lugha zote mbili. Vyombo vyote vikuu vya habari vinatangaza habari za kitaifa kwa Kiingereza na Kiswahili. Wimbo wa taifa wa Kenya unaimbwa kwa Kiingereza na Kiswahili. Katiba ya Kenya yenyewe inapatikana katika lugha zote mbili.
Kiswahili, hata hivyo, ni lugha ya taifa na imekuwa tangu mwaka 1970. Leo, karibu Wakenya wote wanazungumza Kiswahili hivyo kuifanya iwe lugha inayozungumzwa zaidi nchini. Chimbuko la lugha ya Kiswahili ni pale wafanyabiashara Waarabu walipochangamana na wakazi wa pwani ya Afrika Mashariki. Matumizi yake yalienea ndani ya nchi baada ya muda kwani ilitumika kama lugha ya biashara.
Kufikia karne ya kumi na tisa, wakati wakoloni wa Uingereza walipoleta Kiingereza nchini Kenya, Kiswahili kilikuwa tayari kinatumika sana. Wakoloni walikuza zaidi matumizi ya Kiswahili kupitia elimu ya chini ya msingi na kazi ya umishonari. Kiingereza, hata hivyo, kilipitishwa kama lugha ya utawala, biashara na elimu ya juu. Kiingereza ndiyo lugha rasmi ya sasa ya kufundisha katika mfumo wa elimu huku Kiswahili kikifundishwa kama somo tu. Idadi ya sasa ya wanaozungumza Kiingereza nchini Kenya inakadiriwa kuwa asilimia 30 hadi 50 ya watu wote.
Ni nadra kwa Kiingereza na Kiswahili sahihi kinachofundishwa shuleni kutumika katika mahusiano ya kijamii ya kila siku. Katika sehemu za mijini, hasa miongoni mwa vijana, lugha inayozungumzwa zaidi ni Sheng, ambayo ni lugha ya mtaani inayotumia maneno kutoka Kiswahili, Kiingereza na lugha nyingine za kienyeji. Ufasaha katika Sheng unaonekana kama ishara ya werevu wa mitaani miongoni mwa vijana wa mijini. Ikisemekana kuanzishwa katika sehemu za tabaka la chini katika jiji la Nairobi, Sheng leo imeenea katika matabaka yote ya kijamii. Imeingia katika taasisi za kidini, siasa na biashara. Ni kawaida kusikia mwanasiasa akitumia Sheng katika kampeni yake au kupata tangazo la bidhaa katika lugha ya Sheng.
Kujifunza Kiingereza na Kiswahili kumekuzwa nchini na kupuuza lugha za kienyeji. Hadi mwishoni mwa karne ya 20, watoto wa Kenya wangejifunza lugha zao za kiasili pamoja na Kiingereza na Kiswahili. Sasa ni vijana wachache tu wa Kenya wanaoweza kuzungumza lugha zao za kiasili. Lugha hizi za kiasili hazizingatiwi kuwa muhimu kwa maendeleo ya kijamii, kikazi na kiuchumi.
Hata hivyo, licha ya kupungua kwa matumizi, lugha za kiasili za Kenya zina nafasi katika mazingira ya lugha ya Kenya. Utasikia lugha za kiasili zikizungumzwa unaposafiri kupitia miji na vijiji vidogo nchini Kenya. Lugha ya kiasili inayozungumzwa katika kila eneo inatofautiana kulingana na jamii za makabila yanayopatikana huko.
Serikali ilitaka watoto wafundishwe kutumia lugha yao ya kiasili katika shule za msingi baada ya kupata uhuru mwaka 1963. Kutokuwepo kwa nyenzo za kufundisha kulimaanisha kwamba hii haikutekelezwa. Kuongezeka kwa ukuaji wa miji na ndoa kati ya makabila mbalimbali kulifanya ufundishaji katika lugha za kiasili kutovutia. Mwaka 2017, mtaala mpya wa elimu uliotolewa ulionyesha mipango ya kuanzisha tena ufundishaji katika lugha za kiasili. Watu kadhaa walipongeza agizo hili, akiwemo Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, mmoja wa waandishi mashuhuri nchini Kenya. Hata hivyo, kulikuwa na upinzani mwingi kutoka kwa watu ambao hawaoni thamani ya lugha za kiasili katika ulimwengu wa leo.
Iwapo kuanzishwa upya kwa mafunzo ya lugha za kiasili katika mfumo wa elimu kutafaulu, ni jambo litakalojulikana baada ya muda. Kiingereza na Kiswahili zinaendelea kustawi kwa sasa. Hata hivyo, heshima ya ufahari imehifadhiwa kwa ajili ya Kiingereza. Mtazamo wa Kiingereza kama lugha ya tabaka la juu, ambao ni ushawishi wa kudumu wa utawala wa kikoloni wa Uingereza, unaendelea hadi sasa. Wazazi wengi kutoka tabaka la kati na la juu sasa wanafundisha watoto wao Kiingereza kama lugha ya kwanza.
Mbali na kutaka kuwa na ufasaha wa Kiingereza kama ishara ya ustaarabu na akili, Wakenya wanazidi kuhangaikia kupata lafudhi za Uingereza na Marekani. Wakenya wanaozungumza Kiingereza kutumia matamshi yaliyoathiriwa na makabila ya kiasili kwa kawaida huchukuliwa kuwa watu wasio na akili na ustaarabu. Hamu ya kuzungumza kwa lafudhi za kigeni iko pia katika vyombo vya habari vya Kenya. Watangazaji wengi wa redio na televisheni hutumia lafudhi za kigeni kazini.
Shule kadhaa za Kenya hufundisha lugha za kigeni kama sehemu ya mtaala wao. Hizi ni pamoja na Kifaransa, Kihispania, Kijerumani, Kiarabu na kichina, huku Kifaransa kikiwa lugha ya kigeni inayosomwa zaidi. Nakala katika gazeti la Star nchini Kenya mwaka 2020: https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/columnists/2020-03-27-young-french-speaking-kenyans-have-an-advantage/ ilikadiria kwamba kulikuwa na wanafunzi 40,000 wa Kifaransa nchini Kenya. Kujifunza lugha za kigeni kunaokena kama njia ya kuboresha fursa za kazi.
Chaguo la lugha zake mbili rasmi huimarisha sana mazingira ya uwekezaji nchini Kenya. Kiswahili ni mojawapo ya lugha kumi zinazozungumzwa zaidi ulimwenguni na katika mwaka 2021, ikawa lugha ya kwanza ya Kiafrika kusherehekewa na Umoja wa Mataifa. Kiswahili ndiyo lugha inayozungumzwa Zaidi barani Afrika na ina wazungumzaji zaidi ya milioni 200 katika nchi 14. Kiingereza, kwa upande wake, kinazungumzwa na asilimia 17 ya watu ulimwenguni hivyo kuifanya iwe lugha inayozungumzwa zaidi ulimwenguni. Nyenzo za kujifunzia lugha hizi mbili zinapatikana kwa wingi mtandaoni na nje ya mtandao.
Winnie Ngimor
Freelance Translator French<>English<>Swahili at Translated
Winnie Ngimor was born and raised in the Western part of Kenya, in Africa. She is a translator by profession and is also a writer, something she does during her free time. She considers her family to be most important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her reading.
Photo credit: Antony Trivet, Unsplash