Kisumu hosts 30 Counties for 5-day UNESCO Cultural celebrations

 Workers put final touches at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground where the Knatcom for UNESCO Cultural Celebrations is set to kick off on Wednesday-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

September 18, 2018

Kisumu hosts 30 Counties for  5-day UNESCO Cultural celebrations.

THIS year’s third Kenya National Commission for UNESCO Cultural celebrations is set to be held in Kisumu County as from Wednesday.

The three day event is set to kick off at Jomo Kenyatta grounds from  this September 19 to 23, 2018.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to grace the five-day occasion where about 30 counties are set to take part in.

The 5-day celebration will feature multicultural performances, Fish Fiesta, Benga Luo Night, the Omieri exhibition, Cultural performances, Diverse entertainment, Fashion show, Fireworks, public talks, excursions among other dozens of activities. 

The celebrations will run under a theme of enhancing national cohesion, identity and pride.

Already, hundreds of participants have arrived in Kisumu city ahead of the main event.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang' Nyong'o has lauded the Kenya national Commission for UNESCO and National Museums of Kenya for staging this year's edition in the lakeside city.

The Governor adds that Kisumu County boasts of a rich cultural diversity and heritage. 

"The third Knatcom for Unesco Cultural celebrations allows us to celebrate self, preserve and gift the next generation. This platform will enable us to celebrate our diverse cultures that makes us unique as a country”,Nyongo says.

The festival program will kick off on Wednesday with a grand opening ceremony expected to be graced by national government leadership, county governments heads, and thousands of participants and close on Saturday 23rd September 2018.

Kenya National Commission for UNESCO Director General Dr. Angeline Njoka has heaped praises on Kisumu County for the great partnership towards staging of the celebration. 

"We are grateful to Governor Nyong'o for agreeing to host us in Kisumu,  the county boasts of a rich cultural heritage that we wanted to plug into, we expect great performances”, Dr. Angeline says.

 Kenya National Chair Tourism and Kisumu County CEC in charge of Sports and Tourism Achie Alai says this is a great milestone for Kenya's cultural and scientific heritage. 

"As Kisumu County we are proud of our rich heritage, the Omieri for instance is a national heritage that has brought admiration in Africa and regions beyond, I invite all Kenyans to join us in this national celebrations", Alai says.

The main highlight of the festival will be the 10-day return of the legendary Omieri to its homeland in Nyakach, Food Fair dubbed fish Fiesta, performances by Luo Nyanza Benga musicians and hundreds of performances from different counties. 

There will be excursions to Kit Mikai shrine in Seme Sub-County, weeping stone, Kisumu Museum, Got Ramogi Hills in Siaya County, Hippo Point, Dunga and Lwanga Beaches in Kisumu.

After the opening ceremony on Wednesday, there will be adjudication of exhibitions, Youth Extravaganza on Thursday, Benga Luo night on Friday ahead of the closing ceremony on Saturday 22nd September. 

ENDS