Government committed to promoting culture and heritage - PS

The government remains steadfast in promoting culture and heritage in the country, State Department for Culture & Heritage Umi PS Bashir has said.

Basir said the government's mandate is to ensure that the different cultures are not eroded.

Speaking at the Garissa Cultural Centre where she sampled some of the local artefacts, the PS said that culture stands to lose the most ‘if something is not done to correct the situation’.

“We are in a time where digitization and social media are eradicating our cultures and as well as our heritage. The best thing that we can offer as a community is to empower these women and youth who have gone out of their way to ensure that arts, culture and their heritage are upheld,” he said.

She further announced that Garissa has joined nine other counties in the Ushanga Kenya Initiative program.

The PS said that with Garissa joining, they will now get a lot of capacity building, and training for women and girls as well as linking them to market.

She said the government of Kenya through the Ushanga Kenya Initiative has come in to support the women through capacity building and digital training to help them produce quality bead products and access both local and international markets.

Others are Samburu,Kajiado,Narok,  West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, Marsabit, Laikipia and Elgeyo Marakwet.

“The ladies here are very innovative and talented. They have come together to ensure that their cultures are not eroded. As a government, we are bound by article 11 of the constitution which recognizes culture as the backbone of our society and our heritage,” she said.

She said that the national government will continue working closely with the county governments on matters of culture and heritage. 

On his part, Joseph Saoli deputy programme director in charge of marketing said that they will work hard to link the women into markets.

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed said that the Somali community has a rich culture and heritage which needs to be preserved calling on the ministry to help in exploiting the untapped potential among the women and youth.

He said that with the right skills in production and with required capital then the women will go along helping the women and youth get the best.

Present were the  County Attorney Khadija Mohamed, County Commissioner Mohamed Ramadhan, youth and culture executive  Hawa Abdi, Minority Leader Hon Hussein Mohamed and Deputy Speaker Mustafa Abdirashid, and Director Mulki Mohamed.