taifaleo.nation.co.ke
@taifaleo Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:25:11
SIKIDU: Sababu ya Kiswahili kuwa rasilimali kuu inayofaa kubidhaishwa
HII leo, dunia nzima inaadhimisha makala ya tano ya Siku ya Kiswahili Duniani (SIKIDU), tangu Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Elimu, Sayansi na Utamaduni (UNESCO) litoe tangazo mnamo mwaka wa 2021, kutambua na kuthibitisha Kiswahili kuwa lugha yenye umuhimu mkubwa duniani katika mazingira ya wingi-lugha. Kiswahili na lugha nyingine ni amali, rasilimali na nyenzo zinazohitaji kutunzwa na kukuzwa kwa ajili ya maendeleo. Kwa sababu hiyo, wataalamu wanaelekea kukubaliana kwamba mojawapo ya mikabala ya kuziangalia lugha ni ule wa kutoziona kama nyenzo za mawasiliano tu, bali pia kama bidhaa au rasilimali. Je, Afrika Mashariki imejinufaisha vipi kutokana na ubidhaishaji wa Kiswahili? Dunia inapokisherehekea Kiswahili, Afrika ya Mashariki inapaswa kuwa kwenye mstari wa mbele katika utetezi wa lugha hii, na utamaduni wake kwa minajili ya kujinufaisha kiuchumi. Tunapochunguza masuala ya siasa za kijiografia za lugha (geopolitics of languages), inabainika bayana kwamba mataifa mengine ulimwenguni yamebidhaaisha lugha zao kwa njia na namna mbalimbali. Kwanza, mataifa hayo yametumia lugha zao kufaidi kwenye masuala ya kidiplomasia na ushawishi (soft power influence). Je, tumewahi kujiuliza ni kwa nini Wachina wameanzisha taasisi kama vile Confucius Institute katika Vyuo Vikuu vya Nairobi na Kenyatta? Ni kwa nini Wafaransa wana Alliance Francais jijini Nairobi? Je, ni kwa nini Wajerumani wamestawisha Goethe Institute jijini Nairobi? Je, ni kwa nini Waingereza wamestawisha na kuimarisha shirika la Uchapishaji la Oxford University Press kote duniani? Je, maswali haya yanafungamana vipi na jinsi Afrika Mashariki (kitovu cha Kiswahili) inavyokishughulikia na kukiahangaikia Kiswahili? Si jambo la mjadala tena kwamba Kiswahili ndiyo lugha ya kutazamwa sana barani Afrika, kuliko lugha nyingine kuu za bara hili. Afrika ya Mashariki ina bahati kubwa kuwa na Kiswahili, ambacho ni mojawapo ya rasilimali muhimu ya eneo hili. Si lazima rasilimali ziwe mafuta, almasi, na misitu pekee. Idadi ya wazungumzaji wa Kiswahili kote ulimwenguni inakisiwa kuwa baina ya watu milioni 150 na 250. Wengi wa wazungumzaji hawa ni wenyeji wa Afrika ya Mashariki na Kati na Maeneo ya Maziwa Makuu. Ingawa Kiswahili ni lingua franca ya Afrika Mashariki, wasemaji asilia (watu wanaozungumza Kiswahili kama lugha yao ya 'mama' ni kati ya milioni 5 na 15. Fasihi simulizi inadokeza kwamba Waswahili walitoka sehemu za kaskazini ya pwani ya Kenya – mahali panapoitwa Shungwaya karibu na mji wa Lamu. Kutoka mahali hapa, walihamia sehemu nyingine za pwani ya Afrika Mashariki kwa sababu ya vita, njaa, magonjwa n.k. Waswahili asilia (kindakindaki), chambacho mtaalamu Ireri Mbaabu waliitwa Wangozi na walizungumza Kingozi. Hili ni jina la lakabu lililotokana na vitendo vyao vya kupima ardhi kwa kutumia kanda za ngozi. Jina 'Waswahili' ama lilitokana na 'Wa- ziwa –hili' (watu wa ziwa hili) au asili ya Kiarabu 'Sahil' (umoja) na 'Sawahil' (wingi) kwa maana ya watu wa pwani. Mbaabu anadai kuwa neno 'Kiswahili' lilianza kutumika sehemu ya kaskazini mwa pwani karibu na mji wa Lamu kati ya mwaka wa 700 – 800 Baada ya Yesu Kristo. Hii leo, Kiswahili si lugha ya pwani tu. Imekwisha kupasua kingo zake na kuenea katika sehemu mbalimbali ulimwenguni – na kupanua mawanda na maana 'Mswahili', jinsi inavyofahamika. Kuna takriban makundi manne ya 'Waswahili'. Kwanza, ni Waswahili wenye asili ya Kibantu. Pili, tuna Waswahili waliozaliwa kutokana na ndoa kati ya Waarabu na Waswahili asili (kindakindaki). Tatu, ni 'Waswahili' wanaotoka katika makabila mengine ya Kiafrika ambao wanashabikia na kuuenzi utamaduni wa Mswahili. Mwisho, kuna kundi la watu wanaoenzi na kuishughulikia lugha ya Kiswahili katika ulingo wa taaluma. Nilivyokwisha kutaja, Kiswahili ndiyo lugha ya kutazamwa barani Afrika karne hii. Ramani ya lugha inaonesha kwamba Kiswahili ni mojawapo ya lugha kumi na moja zenye wazungumzaji wengi zaidi barani Afrika. Kiswahili ndicho kinashikilia nafasi ya kwanza kwa kuwa na takribani zaidi ya wazungumzaji milioni 150 barani Afrika (wengi wao wakiwa wenyeji wa Afrika Mashariki). Lugha nyingine Afrika zenye wasemaji wengi ni Amharic, Kioromo , pamoja na Kiarabu (Afrika kaskazini). Katika Afrika ya Magharibi, tuna Kiyoruba na Igbo. Katika eneo la Afrika ya Kusini tuna Kizulu na Kishona. Kati ya lugha hizi zote, Kiswahili kimeungwa mkono na wataalamu wengi kuwa lingua franca ya Afrika. Kutokana na umaarufu wa Kiswahili, mataifa ya Afrika Mashariki yanapaswa kuimarisha uundaji na utekelezaji wa sera murua zitakazofanikisha michakato ya ubidhaishaji wake kwa minajili ya kujitajirisha kiuchumi – yanavyofanya mataifa mengine kuhusu lugha zao. Bitugi Matundura ni mhadhiri wa Kiswahili katika Chuo Kikuu cha Chuka
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kahawatungu.com
@kahawatungu Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:11:38
Uhuru hosts U.S. diplomat Susan Burns at Ichaweri amid increased political engagements
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday hosted Susan Burns at his Ichaweri home in Gatundu, Kiambu, in a courtesy visit that comes amid heightened political activity in Kenya. The meeting adds to a series of engagements Burns has held with key political leaders since assuming office as the United States Chargé d'Affaires to Kenya. The [...] The post Uhuru hosts U.S. diplomat Susan Burns at Ichaweri amid increased political engagements appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@kahawatungu Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:13:43
Police to mount security checkpoints across Nairobi ahead of Saba Saba
The National Police Service (NPS) has announced that it will set up enhanced security checkpoints on major roads across Nairobi on Tuesday, July 7, as part of measures to maintain law and order during the annual Saba Saba commemoration. In a statement issued on Monday, Police Spokesperson Michael Muchiri said the heightened security measures were [...] The post Police to mount security checkpoints across Nairobi ahead of Saba Saba appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@kahawatungu Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:19:26
Isaac Ruto sister killed in Southern Bypass crash Near Karen
A 60-year-old woman was killed on Tuesday morning following a road accident along the Southern Bypass near the Kenya Forest office in Karen, Nairobi. Police said the crash occurred at about 6:20 a.m. and involved an Isuzu lorry and a Subaru Forester travelling from Lang'ata towards Kikuyu. The Subaru allegedly failed to maintain a safe [...] The post Isaac Ruto sister killed in Southern Bypass crash Near Karen appeared first on Kahawatungu.
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@standard Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:00
Prison heist: DCI finally launches probe into Sh42 million prisons payroll fraud
The DCI has launched investigations into a Sh42 million Kenya Prisons payroll fraud in which rogue transfers were made to nearly 1,000 officers using compromised payroll credentials.
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taifaleo.nation.co.ke
@taifaleo Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:26:12
Matonya: Waliniseti kuhusu kesi ya ubakaji Kenya
MWANAMUZIKI mkongwe wa bongo flava Matonya ameamua kurejea nyumbani Tanzania baada ya mahakama ya Mombasa kumfutia makosa ya ubakaji. Matonya alikuwa akiishi Mombasa kabla ya kukumbwa na kesi hiyo na kupelekewa kukamatwa kwake Aprili mwaka huu na kusotea jela kwa zaidi ya wiki mbili kabla ya kuachiliwa kwa bondi. Akizungumza na safu hii baada ya kurejea kwao Tanzania, Matonya alidai kuwa kesi hiyo ilikuwa ya kutengenezwa na ndio sababu aliishia kuachiwa na mahakama ya Shanzu kule mombasa, baada ya ushahidi kukosekana. ''Mahakama za Kenya sasa zimenipa uhuru rasmi na kwenda kuendelea na shughuli zangu. kikweli nina mengi ya kusema kuhusu haswa kilichotokea lakini wanasema ukiwa na furaha sana au ukiwa na hasira sana, unatakiwa uchunge ulimi yako. Kwa hiyo furaha niliyonayo inaweza ikazidi ikanifanya niongee yasiyofaa ila niseme Alhamdhulilah," Matonya alitanguliza kusema. Kuhusu haswa kwa nini aliweza kufutia madai, Matonya alisisitiza kuwa ni kutokana na kuwa kesi ile ilikosa mashiko. "Sijui kesi hiyo limetokeatokeaje, lilitengenezwatengenezwaje mpaka likanikuta nilipokuwa, ila nimewasamehe. Ila pamoja na yote kwa ndugu zangu Wakenya siko tayari kupoteza upendo tulioutengeneza ndani ya miaka 19 kwa tatizo la watu wachache." Matonya alikamatwa baada ya kudaiwa kumbaka mmoja wa rafiki zake, maeneo ya kule Nyali, Mombasa mapema mwezi Aprili.
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@kna Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:45:16
How rising cost of living is reshaping financial habits
Rising cost of living is steadily reshaping how Kenyan households spend, save and think about money, forcing many consumers to make tougher financial decisions in an increasingly demanding economic environment. Across households, a larger share of their income is being directed toward essentials such as food, rent, transport, school fees and utilities, leaving significantly less...
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@kna Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:49:06
Kiambu affordable housing project records steady construction progress
Implementation of the Affordable Housing Programme continues to transform lives across Kenya by creating jobs, improving access to decent homes and supporting local economies. Kiambu County is among the counties benefiting from the initiative, with construction of the Kiambu Affordable Housing Project recording a steady progress as the government works to expand access to affordable...
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@kna Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:51:14
Youth leaders protest over delayed national youth council elections
Tension gripped the National Youth Council (NYC) offices at Absa Towers in Nairobi after youth leaders staged a protest over the postponement of the long-awaited National Youth Council elections, which had been scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The demonstration saw youth president aspirant, Fridah Kemunto, symbolically sworn in by her supporters outside...
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