Kericho: Kericho County Government will construct a Cultural and Heritage Museum to protect, promote, and valorize (value addition) the Kipsigis community’s traditional knowledge and associated assets. Speaking during the Kipsigis Cultural Festival at the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium, County Governor Eric Mutai emphasized the rich traditional base of Kericho, highlighting its traditional knowledge, skills, assets, and heritage sites.
According to Kenya News Agency, the museum’s construction aims to preserve the Kipsigis traditional knowledge and cultural expressions for future generations. The Governor noted that the museum would boost tourism by attracting visitors interested in the Kipsigis heritage and culture.
The festival, characterized by vibrant traditional songs and dance, saw Governor Mutai assure that collaborations with Bomet and Narok Counties would enhance the Kipsigis cultural experience. Attendees could purchase traditional ornaments and sample traditional cuisine.
The three-day event united the K
ipsigis community from all six sub-counties in Kericho and included participation from various communities, offering traditional entertainment and cultural artifacts for purchase. The Kipsigis sub-tribe, the largest Nilotic group of the Kalenjin ethnic group, primarily resides in the highlands of Kericho and Bomet Counties.
At the venue, attendees enjoyed the popular Kipsigis drink Mursik, a fermented milk beverage flavored with antiseptic ash. Participants also gained insights into the Kipsigis community’s geo-political organization, clan systems, and initiation traditions.
Elizabeth Chepkirui, a traditionalist, explained to KNA the traditional roles of Kipsigis men and women, detailing their responsibilities in building, agriculture, and household management. Recently, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, through the Natural Products Industry, completed the Indigenous Knowledge Documentation and Digitization of Kipsigis traditional assets, aiming to protect and promote Kenya’s traditional know
ledge.
The Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions Act 2016 outlines that traditional knowledge includes a wide range of cultural expressions such as stories, symbols, ceremonies, and other cultural practices.