Wanted: Fit for purpose language policy in Kenya

Shipping and Maritime Principal Secretary Nancy Karigithu has been under fire, especially from coastal leaders and scholars, following her remarks that lack of basic English language skills inhibits Coastal youth from getting maritime jobs in foreign shipping lines.

Unless the youth are able to cultivate proper English skills, the PS observed, they will continue to miss out on lucrative jobs in the blue economy. Coastal scholars, led by Prof Halimu Shauri, have termed the remarks as ‘marginalisation and discrimination’ of coastal people. Be that as it may, I think Karigithu’s remarks point to a much broader issue that Kenya, and indeed other African countries, needs to confront, namely: A fit for purpose language policy.