Kenya National Music and Cultural Festivals kicked off Friday in Kitui County with participants from 47 Counties performing in different categories of the festivals.
The festival, set to run for the next six days up to 7th next week, has attracted participants who are performing in various talents of music, arts/design, folk dance, and instrumentalist among others.
The festivals which is held at Kitui town Multipurpose center is graced by individual and private institutions who have taken advantage of the carnival and joined the participants from counties to showcase, market and sell their cultural products, art/design, herbal medicine products, modern culture attires, weaving and honey products among others.
Several counties have set up stands to showcase their merchandise from various cultural interests in respect to their respective local communities including traditional food, attire, and medicines among others.
Showcasing stands of Vihiga and Siaya Counties with display of numerous cultural products, artists’ products, agricultural technology especially on food and cereals preservation among other products are attractive to the guests and participants.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Penina Malonza officially opened the celebrations on Saturday.
In her remarks, Malonza lauded the participants drawn from different parts of the nation for showcasing Kenya’s rich cultural heritage.
“This 95th edition festival is displaying an integral role in strengthening national unity while promoting a sense of belonging for all Kenyans even in the face of cultural diversity,” the CS said.
Malonza also affirmed her Ministry’s commitment to support nurturing of talents and promotion of art besides capacity building all counties for sustainability of such events.
The event, being run under the theme: “Embracing Cultural Diversity and Connections in the 21st Century and beyond” has also brought joy to local business communities who have cashed into such rare occasions of business boom.
The business community have set up stands to sell their goods as well as hotel services needed by numerous visitors attending the festivals.
Spot check on various business avenues by KNA found that all guest houses within the town are fully booked irrespective of classes of a guest house. Hotels and other food outlets were reporting high numbers of visiting customers.
“We have full booking of our Guest house rooms for the next six days by participants attending National Cultural and music festivals, thanks to the visitors, who have come when businesses were sinking,” said Ms Syokau Nathan, a caretaker at Mbusyani Guest house.