In a an effort to breathe new life into the Kiswahili language, Makini School-Kisumu, in partnership with East African Educational Publishers and the Daraja Bora Foundation, hosted a dynamic Swahili symposium.

For a long time, Kiswahili has been sidelined as a foundational tool for learning, a narrative these stakeholders are determined to rewrite.

By bringing together educators, publishers, and students, the event left an indelible mark on the learners.

According to Andrew Mwavali of the Daraja Bora Foundation, the symposium successfully elevated Kiswahili from a mere classroom subject into a practical tool for everyday life.

“This year’s theme focused entirely on climate justice,” Mwavali said adding that, “The learners have demonstrated immense enthusiasm toward planting trees and increasing tree cover to mitigate the effects of climate change.”

He further noted the urgency of environmental action in the area, “From what we have observed, the Western region generally has a low tree cover. This reality can only be changed by the young generation, who are still strong, agile, and ready to act.”

Joshua Angira, the Principal of Makini School-Kisumu, pointed out that such academic gatherings have historically driven tremendous improvements in student performance.

“This is the second Swahili symposium since our launch last year,” Angira noted.

“Our goal is to instill the profound importance of the Kiswahili language into these learners. Following last year’s inaugural event, we witnessed a remarkable boost in academic performance.”

Beyond raising awareness about climate change adaptation and mitigation, the symposium offered a rare platform for students to interact directly with publishers, gaining deeper insight into the literary world.

This impact was underscored by Laughton Wanzala, the Head of the Kiswahili Department, who observed that the language, despite being widely spoken across East and Central Africa, has long been denied the attention it deserves.

“Many students have historically held a negative attitude toward Kiswahili,” Mr Wanzala explained.

“Part of this symposium’s mission is to change that mindset and help learners truly appreciate Swahili as a powerful language.”

Janet Owino, a Kiswahili teacher at Makini School, pointed out that the timing of the symposium could not be better, noting that students often prioritize other subjects at the expense of their national language.

“Many students focus heavily on other subjects,” Owino remarked, adding that given the influx of tourists to Kenya, the government should tap into this talent by empowering Swahili teachers to also serve as cultural and tour guides.