KENYA

With independence in  sight, it was proposed that the free Kenya should have an official language which was acceptable to its own people instead of English.

The language was to be used in schools, Parliament, Courts  and other institutions.

Kiswahili was proposed after its proponents argued that with democracy and independence in the horizon there was a need for a language to keep in touch with the people.

However, the proposal  was voted down in favour of English immediately it was introduced in the LegCo in Dec 1962.

The Minister for Education Lawrence A Sagini said:

"Unless the people of Kenya are ready to cut themselves off from the rest of the world in educational development and in knowledge, English must remain the language of instruction."

Sagini also pointed out that all Kenyan laws were in English therefore it was going to be a monumental task of many years to change them to Kiswahili.

"Kiswahili is a corrupt language .It is a completely hybrid language and it reminds us of the old slave trade days when they took the Bantu and the Nandi down to the Coast",said Argwings-Kodhek, the representative of Central Nyanza in the LegCo.