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Government to spend Sh1.4b on culture centres

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Published on Thursday, 20 January 2011 23:07

The Government will build cultural centres in each of the 47 counties, at a cost of Sh1.4 billion, Heritage and Culture Assistant Minister Wilfred Ombui has said.

Speaking during the Bomachoge Culture and Sports festival at Misesi in Gucha, Mr Ombui said the centres would each cost Sh30 million.

"The Government recognises culture as an integral part in socio-economic development. We have asked the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds in the next financial year for setting up the centres," he said.

He said Western Province was advanced in cultural activities and urged other regions to emulate it.

The minister said construction of culture centres was underway in Kogelo, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Kisii Central districts.

"Our ministry is relatively young, but we shall strive to fund development of cultural festivals in the country especially at county level. We shall soon post culture officers to the counties," he added.

During the festival attended by Bomachoge MP Simon Ogari and his Kitutu Masaba counterpart Wilfred Nyambati, Gusii culture artifacts were on display besides cultural dances.

Hundreds who turned up were entertained with various sports including ‘Ribina’ (Rain dance), tug of war, athletics and wrestling.

Ombui said lack of funding hampered preservation of culture, adding that the ministry had a serious shortage of staff as a result.

Cultural officers

"Nyanza province, for instance, has only three provincial directors of culture and six cultural officers. I am impressed in today’s activity but with technical advice it can be better," added Ombui.

He said a cultural centre would be set up in Gucha and a cultural officer posted soon to offer technical advice on such activities.

Event patron and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Managing Director, Dr James Onsando, said the event was aimed at bringing the past to the present so that young people could learn aspects of the Gusii culture.