The annual Kenya Music and Cultural Festivals, hosted at Moi Girls High School in Eldoret, have concluded with Uasin Gishu County emerging as the overall best county.
Uasin Gishu, which finished second in last year’s 97th edition, claimed the top award after securing a total of 75 trophies.
Kakamega County took second place, while Nairobi County finished third. This year’s festival brought together groups from 30 counties.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki presided over the closing ceremony and awarded the winners.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy President underscored the need for the country to restore its cultural foundations, which he said have been weakened by emerging technologies.
“Many of our children no longer respect traditions and culture. They have little regard for elders and the community. We must work hard to recover the foundations of our nation, and language and culture are the strongest forms of identity we have,” Kindiki said.
Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo echoed similar sentiments.
The CS noted that culture plays a vital role in addressing the challenges facing society and the nation.
“We have faced issues such as GBV and femicide, but as a ministry, we have discovered we can use culture to speak against some of the negative things we are witnessing in our country,” she said.
She also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with county governments to address these issues and ensure that society aligns with national values.
Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii Chelilim, for his part, praised the performances showcased during the festival, noting that they highlighted Kenya’s rich cultural heritage—preserved, nurtured, and passed down through generations.
“Culture has been with us since time immemorial; it is as old as our people. We must cherish it. The more we embrace it, the easier we make our lives,” the governor said.
He also thanked President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for championing peace and national unity.
