Hindi Township has launched Lamu Women’s Cultural Festival, aimed at promoting social cohesion among women living within the township.
The one-day affair aims to bring together women, especially those from minority groups such as the Aweer, Sanye, Bajuni and Kikuyu communities living within Lamu.
The festival, held today at Hindi township and themed, “Celebrating Women in Promoting Pluralism, Inclusivity, Ethnicity and Diversity in Bringing Sustainable Peace and Harmony in Lamu” under the auspices of Kiunga Youth Bunge Initiative is expected to take place annually.
Speaking during the launch, Kiunga Youth Bunge Initiative (KYBI) Programme Coordinator Noor Dahir stated that the event is aimed at bringing the women from all the communities together.
“This festival is also aimed at creating a space for women from all communities living in Lamu to demystify ethnicity and religion among the various communities living in Lamu,” KYBI Programme Manager Stanley Mathenge stated.
Lamu Senator Joseph Githuku who graced the occasion further explained that the festival would create harmony among communities living in Lamu especially within the mainland area and further aid in curbing violent extremism.
“By bringing women from all communities living in Lamu to share and showcase their communities during this festival, women are showing the youths and men that they can live together regardless of religion or creed,” the legislator said.
He further said the festival should be marked yearly as a key event in which women also air out the issues affecting them such as early child marriages, gender based violence and defilement cases.
“Through the Lamu Women’s Cultural Festival, women entrepreneurs will also get the opportunity to sell handicrafts and products that their various groups are making,” former Hindi Ward MCA Anab Mohammed said.
She further lauded KYBI for hosting the one-day festival and called on the county government through its Sports and Culture department to sponsor women’s cultural events in future.
By Amenya Ochieng
