As 2024 draws to a close, Pius Odhiambo, the founder of KISWATE, has issued a heartfelt message of gratitude and optimism for the future.
In a statement issues from Washington DC, Mr. Odhiambo has wished Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year 2025 to supporters and beneficiaries worldwide and highlighted the significant milestones KISWATE has achieved over the past four years.
Since its inception, KISWATE has successfully adopted seven secondary schools, including Sega Girls, Ukwala High, and Ndenga Sec, among others, sponsoring 350 students through high school. The latest cohort completed their national exams this year, with 25 students now pursuing higher education in various colleges and universities globally.
In 2024, KISWATE launched its TV News Bulletin, managed by university students under mentorship, enhancing the organization’s communication and providing verified news to its audience. This initiative has rendered misinformation propagated via social media obsolete, ensuring that KISWATE’s supporters receive authentic updates directly from the management.
The organization also engaged stakeholders in a face-to-face meeting at Lwero Primary School on June 1, 2024, led by KISWATE Kenya Board Chairman Wambia Kawambia. Plans for the KISWATE Villa were approved, and the proposed KISWATE Digital Academy project was introduced. Additionally, the first cohort of graduates enjoyed an educational trip to Nyabohanse, near Isebania, Tanzania, supported by KISWATE Community Service, which has also provided employment opportunities and vocational training in sugarcane juice production.
Looking ahead, KISWATE aims to establish the KISWATE Digital Academy near Ogeya Primary School in West Ugenya, Siaya County, with Uyundo Sec School and Nile Road Special Secondary School as the initial beneficiaries. Construction of KISWATE Villa is slated to commence in late 2025.
Odhiambo also announced the continuation of scholarship programs through talent shows and the adoption of ethnic languages, in line with the CBC curriculum. He expressed a commitment to collaborating with all 47 counties in Kenya to recognize ethnic languages as a third official language, alongside English and Kiswahili. He emphasized the importance of promoting “Sheng language” as a third official language for Nairobi County in the coming decades.
In closing, Odhiambo reiterated the need for county governments to allocate more resources to the teaching of ethnic languages in schools, aligning with the CBC curriculum. He commended the African Union’s adoption of Kiswahili as an official language, viewing it as a positive step toward cultural and linguistic inclusivity in Africa.
As KISWATE looks to the future, it remains dedicated to empowering students and communities through education, cultural recognition, and innovative initiatives.
For more information, visit KISWATE’s YouTube channel here.
