Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and Women Representative Dr. Reginalda Wanyonyi attended the Bungoma County Cultural Festival at Bungoma Cultural Centre in Sang’alo.
The event was an initiative of the National Government affirmative action aimed at bringing together all cultural communities residing in Bungoma County.
The cultural event involved all communities in Bungoma County among them Bukusu, Tachoni, Teso, Batura, Sabaot, Bongomek and Nubi.
The event was spearheaded by county governor Ken Lusaka as the guest of honour, county Member of Parliament Dr. Reginaldah Wanyonyi and the minister of Gender and Culture, Youth and Sports of Bungoma County Protus Chemonges.
Those who attended the event wore proud and happy faces as they sung some of the cultural songs that were initiated by their fore fathers.
Speaking during the event, Governor Lusaka said that traditional foods have been ignored and are no longer appreciated.
“The food that our fathers ate was healthy and increased their life span but now our life span has reduced because of the types of food that we are ingesting.” He said.
He stated that traditional food should be planted in plenty for people to stop depending on genetically modified food that is harmful to their health.
He added that the county has set aside 3 million shillings for these festival celebrations all over the country.
“This is the curtain raiser for the coming event of circumcision and everybody is waiting for the festival.” he reiterated.
The governor said that the Sang’alo cultural centre will be a place of hosting cultural festivals every December so as to celebrate their culture and usher in the New Year.
The county Member of Parliament complained that young people have ignored traditional food because it take time to prepare and instead go for the latter.
She urged parents to teach young ladies on how to prepare traditional food so that they may be able to plant them in plenty.
She argued that their culture is what they should enhance more than any other.
Initiators said that they would prefer it the county government recognizes them by giving them certificates and budges as this will make them be recognized and known during circumcision.
They also told chiefs and sub-chiefs to know which initiators will be in their region so that they are aware of who will be responsible for the exercise in their areas.
They told the parents and care takers to provide good food that will help the boys to heal fast and go back to school after they are circumcised.