MCAs Push for Preservation of Embu Culture

Following a petition filed by the Kiama kia Muyembu Trust, the Committee on Youth, Gender, Sport, Culture, Children and Social Services, led by Chairperson Nominated MCA Mary Kavinda tabled a report directing the County Government to evaluate cultural groups’ suitability for involvement in county cultural programmes.

The Culture Department, in consultation with the office of the County Attorney and other relevant stakeholders, develop and submit to the County Assembly a collaboration framework with registered cultural organizations within 120 days. The framework should provide mechanisms for program support, cultural education, and environmental conservation activities among others.

In its report, the Committee also gave a 90-day ultimatum for the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services in consultation with the CECM for Finance and Economic Planning to undertakes an assessment on the suitability and viability of establishment of a County Fund to cater for the promotion of culture and other related purposes.

The Ward Representatives unanimously resolved that pending the recommendation on establishment of a formal fund, the County Government should ensure that there are budgetary allocations in future county budgets to promote cultural values related to family cohesion, responsible parenting and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

The County Culture Docket was also urged to identify and collaborate with community-based cultural organizations, to design and implement programs for men, women, and youth, aimed at promoting customary and cultural awareness, family responsibilities, and the enhancement of peace and unity within the community in line with the Embu County Cultural and Heritage Act, 2016.

The legislators have as well advised the County Executive to within twelve months undertake a comprehensive survey and document sacred places historically used by Embu forefathers for prayers, sacrifices and other cultural activities with the aim of identifying and preserving these sites as community monuments and ensure that the recognized sites, are declared as community monuments, in order to legally protect and promote the associated cultural heritage.

The MCAs advised the County Government to consider integrating the promotion and protection of sacred places with environmental conservation efforts by ensuring the preservation of forests, water towers, and water catchment areas linked to these sites, at the same time fast-tracking the establishment of a framework for identifying and honouring past and current Embu heroes and heroines through the erection of monuments, cenotaphs, and the renaming of significant roads and centres.

In addition, the Assembly is calling for prioritization of the completion of the stalled Culture Resource Centre at the County Culture Offices as well as the rehabilitation of the dilapidated cultural homesteads within the precincts and further consider plans to establish a museum, archive, and library for preservation of cultural heritage while operationalizing the community cultural centre at the headquarters once completed, and in the planning for the establishment of similar centres in other locations. This should include exploring options for allocating land and other resources cultural organizations, to assist in the establishment and management of additional community-run cultural centres, archives, museums, and libraries.