The Treatment of Kiswahili in Kenya’s Education System

Abstract

This paper intends to evaluate the treatment of Kiswahili in the educationsystem in Kenya. The need for this evaluation arises from the fact thatalthough English and Kiswahili are co-official languages under the Official LawReports of the Republic of Kenya (2010)1, English seems to remain prominent inthe conduct of official communication in Kenya‟s public and private formaldiscourse. The paper examines language policy documents containinginformation on the place of Kiswahili in official communication within theRepublic of Kenya. Some of these documents show the status of Kiswahilibefore and immediately (approximately 20 years) after independence whileothers are more recent documents. The paper then assesses theimplementation of the policy documents as far as Kiswahili is concerned, notingthat the treatment of Kiswahili has not been a fair one especially whencontrasted with that of English. Possible reasons for the unfair treatment aresuggested, noting that although the treatment (of Kiswahili) has not been veryfair, Kiswahili has still developed, its use has increased and there aresignificant achievements that can be identified. Other ways of elevatingKiswahili are suggested and discussed. The paper concludes by observing thatall Kenyans need to participate in the promotion of Kiswahili if it is to continuegrowing as it should as one of Kenya‟s two official languages, Kenya‟s onlynational language, and a mother tongue to many Kenyans.