Why A Professor Has Filed A Petition To Make Luo A National Language

Professor Sammy Gwada Ogot, or as he’s popularly known, weed activist, has filed a petition in the National Assembly to have Luo language classified as an official language in Kenya.

Prof. Gwada Ogot is remembered for his push for the legalisation of the medical production and use of bhang.

According to Gwada,Chapter two of the Constitution should be amended and the Luo language given official status that, according to him, believes it does.

Prof. Gwada stated that his petition is a way of promoting the development and use of indigenous languages in line with constitutional provisions.

Last week, In a petition submitted to the Clerk of National Assembly, Gwada argued that the Dholuo, Luo Language, has a capacity to not only generate but also record, translate, instruct and transmit knowledge scientifically.

Ogot stated that Luo language is the foundation of universal knowledge hence should be recognised and given the status it deserves.

“That this petition identifies Luo as the first language for scientific and liturgical instructions of the world and as the root of all others, including Kiswahili and English, both which enjoy national and official status in the Constitution,” Gwada’s petition says.

According to Gwada, Article 7 of the Constitution has identified Kiswahili as the national language while listing the same Kiswahili and English as the official languages.

Ogot wants the Parliament to amend the article so that Luo is included alongside Kiswahili and English, which he states that it is part of the government policy to promote and protect the diversity of language of the people of Kenya.

Gwada states that his petition is a step towards realising the national ideal of self-sufficiency in language and aligns to the policy guidelines formulated by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) as well as tenets of the new competency based education system.

Mr Ogot states in his petition that Luo and Luhya are the two greats lights of language upon which knowledge is constructed.

“Luo is the language of light in which the Holy Bible was written and is therefore the key to deciphering meanings of identities, expressions and contexts of all other faiths universally since all primarily constructed on Luo morphemes,” Gwada stated in a petition.

According to Gwada’s petition, Luo baptismal language of the world is exclusive scholastic basis for universal study of the history and origin of proper names, especially personal names and Philosophy.

In his petition, Ogot provides a range which includes all ostronyms, astronyms, hydronyms, oronyms, eponyms, toponyms and anthroponyms in the universe since all agglutinate from Luo morphemes and phrases.

“The facts I have presented recognise language as the singular vanguard, voice and van for protecting, promoting and conveying culture and knowledge and in the shared pursuit of developing, promoting, protecting local languages, I pray that Article 7 of the constitution be amended to include Luo as official language.”