By BRYAN TUMWA
Kakamega, Kenya: Professionals in Kakamega County have reacted angrily to a proposal by Kakamega County Assembly Speaker Morris Buluma to allow illiterate County Representatives to debate in vernacular.
John Wesonga, the County Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman, said the idea was ill advised and cautioned that such a move would be insulting to professionals.
But Masinde Muliro University Vice-Chancellor Barasa Wangila supported Buluma’s proposal, saying it would ensure that language barrier does not deter elected members from contributing.
He told The Standard the move would create employment for translators at the assembly.
“The hitch would be that there would not be standardisation of the Luhya language because county representatives subscribe to different dialects,” Prof Wangila explained.
“Important Government documents cannot be discussed or recorded in vernacular. Besides, it is not only Luhyas who live in Kakamega County. If there is any member who cannot express themselves in official languages, let them resign,” said Wesonga.
Buluma wants to introduce a Standing Order that allows for flexibility in the House whereby members would use English, Kiswahili, and Luhya to communicate. The former High Court advocate has voiced his intentions clearly in public functions and through the Press, citing illiteracy among some members of the assembly.
Wesonga sought to criticise such county representatives saying it was important for those in positions of leadership to have adequate academic credentials and those who did not meet them should not subvert the law.
Vitalis Masakwe, a professional from Mumias town who works with people with disabilities, termed the move as outrageous and an impediment to national integration.
“Thirty per cent of the people working in the county are from other regions of the country, which is why making mother tongue the language for conducting official business is outrageous. This is the second largest county in the country. Introducing such a standing order would be counterproductive,” said Masakwe.
Masakwe said it was time for stakeholdersto raise the bar by demanding the highest qualifications for elective positions.
