SALT CEO Challenges Tharaka Nithi County Government To Better Support Culture
Society for Alternative learning and Transformation SALT C.E.O address attendees of Maara Cultural Festival Season 2 at YMCA Mugona grounds in Mitheru Ward
By: Denis Mutua
Speaking at YMCA Mugona grounds during the first day of Maara Cultural Festival Season 2, Society for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT) CEO Simon Ndonco Mitambo criticized the Tharaka Nithi County Government for its lack of enough support for cultural initiatives.
Ndonco pointed out that, unlike other counties such as Kilifi, Tharaka Nithi has not debated or passed any bills in the assembly to support the county’s diverse cultures.
He noted that aside from the Ura Gate Cultural Festival, which he and others founded in 2016, the county government does not support any other cultural events.
“Tharaka Nithi should benchmark with Kilifi County on how cultural policies are developed. Our county lacks a framework to support cultural activities,” Ndonco remarked.
“It is poorly funded and supported because of this lack of framework. Ura Gate Culture Festival is not even an initiative of the county government,” he added.
Ndonco argued that the county government should fund events like the Maara Cultural Festival and other initiatives aimed at reviving and conserving culture, rather than focusing solely on the Ura Gate Cultural Festival.
“It is by supporting these small initiatives on culture started by community-based organizations that will make Tharaka Nithi a haven of culture,” he said.
Further, Ndonco who is an expert in cultural matters, discouraged the competition of cultural groups during such functions, stating that it does not aid in reviving and conserving culture.
He suggested that all groups should be given a chance to participate in the festivals without competition.
Although this challenge was not welcomed by officials from the county government officials, residents especially culture enthusiasts agreed that the county government should do more to support culture.
In a heated debate by members of the public regarding Ndonco’s remarks on SALT’s official WhatsApp platform, the devolved unit was criticized for fighting critics instead of learning and rectifying the respective areas.
“On matters of culture, what happens in Tharaka Nithi is just a smokescreen to conceal misappropriation of public funds. A mere event in August or September can’t qualify to represent culture since everything in the county revolves around the governor and doesn’t allow any room for independent thinking,” a participant on the platform wrote.
Another participant remarked that the act by the county government using staffers to fight people who understand culture instead of supporting them will end up diluting culture in the communities in the county.
The Maara Cultural Festival, a two-day event, concluded yesterday, ahead of the Tharaka Cultural Exhibition – Nkondi chapter next week, and the Annual Ura Gate Cultural Festival in August.
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