It was pomp and colour at the National Defence College (NDC) as the course participants of Course 26 of 2023/24 showcased their rich cultural diversity and heritage during this year’s Cultural Day held at the College’s grounds in Karen, Nairobi.
The Cultural Day themed ‘My Culture, Your Culture, Our Culture,’ brought together various communities in Kenya and other allied countries among them Botswana, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The invited guests were treated to spectacular performances by local and international communities which climaxed with the splendid performance of the famous Drummers of Burundi. True to the theme, the guests joined the course participants in dance and song of various traditional performances.
The cultural display and exhibitions involved traditional food and delicacies, songs and dance, cultural artefacts, clothing and the intricate costumes of the various communities among other aspects of cultural diversity.
In his remarks, the Chief Guest, Principal Secretary – State Department for Public Service Mr. Amos Gathecha underscored the need for unity, resilience of vibrancy of the various communities, and the need to foster cohesion.
Mr. Gathecha who is also an alumnus of the College said that the Cultural Day served as a link between the host communities and their fellow course participants from allied countries by showcasing the beauty of African and Asia cultures.
“Today, we come together to celebrate and cherish the incredible cultures of African and Asian Continents and pay homage to their unique contributions. In a world that is often characterized by differences and divisions, events like this serve as a reminder of the power cultural celebrations can have in bringing people together,” said the Chief Guest.
“As we gather to celebrate the diversity of our culture, let us also acknowledge the strength and determination that has allowed our people to triumph in the face of adversity. Humanity has been faced with numerous challenges throughout history not only in our two continents but also beyond but as a people, we have always risen above them and with an unwavering sense of identity and with unyielding commitment to our heritage,” the PS added.
NDC Commandant Major General Rashid Elmi reiterated that the whole government approach model on which the college is premised starts with cultural inclusivity by creating synergies amongst Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with a view of finding common solutions to emerging challenges as they offer similar services to the people of Kenya.
“This is a critical milestone in the professional career of the Course Participants since as future strategic leaders, advisors and policy makers, they shall be expected to know the cultural mosaic of various communities. Several contestations have emerged into regional and international conflicts just because of misunderstanding on cultural perspectives,” said the Commandant.
Also present was the Principal Secretary- State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms. Mary Muthoni, members of the Diplomatic Corps from various allied countries, Senior Directing Staff from the college as well as National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K), Senior Military officers and government officials as well as representatives from various partners.
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