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The inaugural Utamaduni Day was yesterday celebrated with pomp and colour at the Bomas of Kenya.
The even was characterised by a display of Kenya’s cultural heritage through traditional dances and exhibitions.

First Lady Rachel Ruto hosted the celebrations to mark the event formerly marked as Moi Day, then Huduma Day and lately transformed into a day dedicated to celebrating the nation’s cultural diversity and heritage.

Mrs Ruto yesterday emphasised the importance of nurturing and safeguarding Kenya’s diverse cultural practices. She highlighted how Kenya took another step towards safeguarding its unique identity while forging stronger bonds among its people.

“As we gather to celebrate Utamaduni Day, we affirm our commitment to embracing the kaleidoscope of cultures that define us as Kenyans. This transformation from Moi Day to Utamaduni Day is not merely a change of name,” she said.

She highlighted how Utamaduni Day was conceived to honour the richness of Kenya’s cultural diversity and heritage.

“It is a day for us to unite and rejoice in our ethnic diversity, traditions and customs that together create a magnificent tapestry of unity within our diversity,” she said.

According to the First Lady, the phrase ‘utamaduni twajivunia utangamano’ embodies the essence of many communities gathering at the Bomas of Kenya and reminds Kenya that their diversity is their strength.

She noted how the day presented every Kenyan with an opportunity to celebrate their diverse backgrounds, explore, appreciate and understand each other’s cultures, enabling them to foster unity and share identity.

“We might come up with ways to market our own culture while preserving and protecting its intellectual property. Maybe it’s time for us to develop our own clout by tapping into talent, resources, and other government-driven initiatives,” she remarked.

According to Ms Ruto, yesterday’s event aligned with the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, which also emphasizes the government’s commitment to fostering the goal of the creative economy. The constitution has always recognized culture as the foundation of Kenya, as stated in Article 11 of the Constitution, which acknowledges culture as the tributary civilization of the people of Kenya.

The public holiday set for October 10, formerly known as Moi Day – named after Kenya’s second President – was first renamed Huduma Day and later Utamaduni Day in 2020 following the Statute Miscellaneous Amendments Act No. 29 of 2020, to honour and celebrate Kenya’s rich cultural diversity.

The Principal Secretary for Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, added how yesterday’s Utamaduni Day was the first actual cultural celebration to be held at the Bomas.

“On this inaugural nationwide celebration, we embrace the spirit of unity that our cultural diversity brings. Our cultural heritage is the compass that guides us, connecting the past, the present, and the future. It is a reflection of the struggles and shared experiences of the Kenyan people,” said Bashir.

She emphasised the government’s commitment to preserving the country’s cultural heritage in order to reshape our cultural interactions and celebrations to reflect this diversity.