The Garre community in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, has marked its second anniversary in commemoration of its rich cultural heritage.
Garre is one of the Somali clans, spread across Kenya. The occasion, marked on August 27 annually, coincided with the newly declared Katiba day in the country, commemorated for the first time on Wednesday.
The Garre community took the opportunity to showcase their rich culture through dances and a display of their traditional foods.
The colourful event attracted mainly women from the community, clad in their ‘Garre’ marked cultural attire.
One of the participants, Sadia Ibrahim, revealed that the celebrations were basically a women’s affair only, since minimal interaction with men helps them to preserve their community’s moral fabric.
“It was an important day for us women, even in Mosques, we don’t mix with men, this helps us in upholding our moral fabric. It was indeed an opportunity for us to showcase our uniqueness to the people,” she said.
However, the participants acknowledged advancement in lifestyles due to the fast-changing technology, hence the need to shun some of their archaic traditions, for instance, in clothing, which do not fit in the modern society.
However, they maintained that some of their ancient artefacts and foods have to be passed on to the next generation.
The community called on the government for support in preserving their culture.
By Muturi Mwangi
