''Chama cha Kiswahili cha Taifa'' (National Kiswahili Association, abbreviated as CHAKITA) is a Kenyan institution founded in 1998 responsible for the promotion of the

Swahili language Swahili, also known as as it is referred to endonym and exonym, in the Swahili language, is a Bantu languages, Bantu language originally spoken by the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique (along the East Af ...

in Kenya. The Founding Chair is Prof.

Kimani Njogu Dr. Kimani Njogu is a Kenyan linguist known for his study of and advocacy for the Kiswahili language. Life and career Njogu was born in Kericho County. After teaching high school, he pursued further education in Swahili studies, gaining his Bach ...

, a graduate of Yale University's department of Linguistics. Key activities of CHAKITA are directing research into Kiswahili language and literature in coordination with academic institutions and to develop Kiswahili so that it can be used as a means of national development. The institution sees use of indigenous languages in governance as key to socio-economic development. The Association is key in influencing policies on culture and languages in Kenya and was instrumental in ensuring that Kiswahili was entrenched in the Constitution of Kenya. In 2000, the Kenyan parliament passed a CHAKITA sponsored bill to make Kiswahili a national language and to make its teaching compulsory in schools. Professor Clara Momanyi, Secretary of CHAKITA, was tasked with translation of the new

Constitution of Kenya The Constitution of Kenya is the supreme law of the Republic of Kenya. There have been three significant versions of the constitution, with the most recent redraft being enabled in 2010. The constitution was presented to the Attorney General ...

, which was approved in the 2010 referendum. In keeping with its view of the need for development of indigenous languages for national integration and development, CHAKITA has also supported increased government promotion of other Kenyan languages. The 2000 bill also called for the creation of 'Baraza la Lugha la Taifa' (National Languages Council), to develop other local languages. The vision of CHAKITA is to have the East African region use Kiswahili effectively in all sectors of the economy. The mission of CHAKITA is to contribute in the development of Kiswahili in the region through advocacy as well as publishing, teaching, conferences, translations and linkages with key stakeholders. CHAKITA has played a key in fostering closer ties and coordinating its activities with similar Kiswahili promotion bodies such as BAKITA in

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

and

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

to aid in the development of Kiswahili. CHAKITA is managed by an Executive Committee composed of a Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer. A number of technical committees support the work of the association.

References

Language regulators Swahili language Cultural organisations based in Kenya {{Swahili-stub

See also

References