Should We Decolonize Our Minds From English And Embrace Swahili?

By Martha Etale

Kenya gained independence from the British empire in 1963. Gaining independence means a state of having freedom from outside control or support.

British colonization in Kenya had an impact on political, social, and economic living. Kenya was affected socially in terms of adopting a new language “English”.

English speakers in Kenya are 9 percent of the population. This is about 25 million of the 48 million Kenyans who can express themselves in English. Kenya is ranked position 18 in the world as among the best in English proficiency. 

In schools, learners and students are given at least two days a week to speak Swahili the rest of the days they are fond of speaking  English. Punishments that are given to students speaking Swahili are very shameful and a student is seen so dumb by not knowing how to express themselves in English.

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Arguing that being fluent in English gives one an opportunity to improve their interaction skills. They become more politically engaged me and more internationally mobile. Speaking English in Kenya, one is termed as smarter than when they speak in Kiswahili. I think this is where the country lost its culture and it’s still not independent.

Back in 2015, Tanzania became the first sub-Saharan African country to use an African language as the medium of instruction throughout the schooling years. Currently, the country’s education system is bilingual, as it has been since the independence from the British in  1961. Although English is part of the curriculum but as a language subject.

Kenya has 42 tribal languages in which Kiswahili brings them all together. I think Kenyans should stick to the language that defines them. Be proud of the language and make it have an impact more than the adopted foreign languages.