Kenya’s stamp program is traditionally very lean and focused on its rich landscape and culture, with 1 to 4 sets annually. The 2021 year saw a single stamp, which celebrated Kenya’s diverse linguistic heritage. It was issued in conjunction with UNESCO’s initiative to preserve languages around the world. They declared 2022 to 2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. 

Kiswahili and English are Kenya’s official languages, with another 40 spoken around the country. The 2010 constitution recognises and protects the rights of Kenyans to use their own languages: 

Kenya; and Constitution of Kenya, 2010 15
(b) promote the development and use of indigenous languages,
Kenyan Sign language, Braille and other communication
formats and technologies accessible to persons with
disabilities.

According to the Kenyan High Commission (in Canada) website, 

Kenya has an estimated population of 48 million people approximately 6 million of whom live in the major cities and towns. There are 42 ethnic groups with diverse languages and cultures. The major ethnic groups are the Kikuyu, the Kalenjin, the Luhya, the Kamba, the Maasai, the Meru, the Giriama, the Taita, the Somali and the Borana. There is also a good number of Indians, Arabs and European who live mainly in various urban areas.

There has been a shift in how languages are approached and protected in Kenya. An effort is underway to improve accessibility to the country’s many native tongues by offering it in schools. 

The importance of the rebirth of the use of indigenous languages in schools in Kenya cannot be overemphasised. It could have a profound effect on children’s educational outcomes, as well as much broader beneficial effects on the Kenyan society. Why embracing indigenous languages could have major benefits for Kenya (theconversation.com) 

The article quoted above is a superb read by the way. It explores the benefits of promoting and protecting languages and is easily applicable to any country in the world and is a good starting place to learn more about indigenous languages. 

For further reading check out Four in 10 indigenous languages at risk of disappearing, warn UN human rights experts | | 1UN News.

This 17-page document is a fascinating read by Catherine Agoya-Wotsuna (University of Nairobi) on The Role of Indigenous Languages in Kenya: A Case for Using Them as Languages of Instruction Throughout Primary School explores in more depth what the “Why embracing indigenous languages” discusses.  

Kenya Tries to Preserve Vanishing Languages – Africa Defense Forum (adf-magazine.com) explores the struggles in preserving languages. Once again, this is a universal theme that can be applied to most countries. In the same vein is Martin C Njoroge (Pan Africa Christian University) and Moses Gatambuki Gathigia’s (Karatina University) paper The treatment of Indigenous Languages in Kenya’s Pre- and Post-independent Education Commissions and in the Constitution of 2010 is another good resource in exploring how colonialism damaged both cultural identities and the use of indigenous languages. The pdf is available here along with a lengthy list of references you can use to explore this further. 

Kenya may have issued just one stamp, but it spoke volumes. 

June

International Year of Indigenous Languages – UNESCO 

1 stamp, FDCs were also released.

No designer mentioned.

Release date: June 10, 2022

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