MERU, Kenya – Cultural enthusiasts and education stakeholders have called for the integration of African traditions and indigenous knowledge into Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum and other African education systems, saying cultural heritage can play a vital role in shaping learners’ identity, values, and practical skills.
The appeal was made during a stakeholders’ engagement that brought together the Ameru Cultural Stakeholders Association (ACSA), the London-based Ateker International Development Organising (AIDO), and Meru County leadership. The meeting was attended by former Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and Isaac Mutuma, among other cultural and education leaders.
Prof. Kaimenyi emphasized that indigenous knowledge systems offer valuable learning opportunities that can complement classroom education while nurturing moral development among young people.
He proposed transforming cultural centres across the country into active learning hubs where learners can engage directly with traditional knowledge, practices, and cultural artifacts.
“The cultural centres have beautiful carvings of wild animals, birds and other materials, and they can serve as teaching areas. Children can visit, see, touch and learn about our wildlife, traditional foods and practices that held communities together before colonial times,” said Prof. Kaimenyi.
According to the former education minister, such centres would provide unique experiential learning opportunities, especially for children in rural communities who may have limited access to modern educational resources.
The stakeholders also stressed the need to preserve traditional diets amid rising concerns over lifestyle diseases associated with changing eating habits.
Prof. Kaimenyi urged families and schools to promote indigenous foods, noting that traditional diets contributed significantly to the health and productivity of African communities.
“Our children should be taught how to prepare and consume healthy traditional foods such as yams, porridge and arrowroots. We must embrace and love traditional foods. In the past, communities relied on indigenous foods and remained healthy and productive. We need to go back to our roots,” he said.
The discussions further explored the role of culture in promoting respect, social responsibility, and moral values among young people. Prof. Kaimenyi highlighted the importance of reviving traditional principles that protected the dignity of women and girls within society.
Governor Mutuma pledged support for initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting African heritage, noting that many communities had gradually abandoned their cultural practices in favor of foreign influences.
“We left our African culture and embraced European culture. African culture is a blessing and our heritage, and we must work to preserve it for future generations,” said Governor Mutuma.
Also speaking during the engagement, Mbaka Nduru, Vice-Chancellor of Chuka University, called on communities, educational institutions, and policymakers to collaborate in safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring that future generations remain connected to their roots.
To advance the initiative, Prof. Kaimenyi urged the government to increase funding for cultural centres, arguing that investment in such facilities would directly contribute to the education and holistic development of young people.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that incorporating cultural heritage into the Competency-Based Education framework would help produce learners who are not only academically competent but also deeply grounded in African identity, values, and traditions.
They noted that strengthening cultural education could play a critical role in preserving indigenous knowledge while equipping future generations with a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility within their communities.
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