Mombasa: Churches countrywide have been urged to support the translation of the Bible into lesser-known languages, a project spearheaded by the Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL) organisation. During the 5th edition of the ‘Run for The Bibleless’ event held at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, BTL’s Board Chair, Kendi Ogamba, highlighted the ongoing need for communities to access the scriptures in their native languages.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ogamba emphasised the high costs associated with Bible translation and urged the Church to contribute to this cause through the charity walk ‘Run For The Bibleless’. ‘We shall continue with the ‘Run For The Bible’ until all communities receive the scriptures in their own language,’ she said.
Founded in 1981, BTL is a Christian-based organisation dedicated to Bible translation and sustainable literacy development programmes for small language groups in Kenya and beyond. To date, the organisation has completed and dedicated six full Bibles and twelve New Testament translations. Currently, BTL is working on eleven translation projects across the country, including those for the Ribe, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, and Rabai languages, primarily in the coastal region.
The ‘Run for the Bibleless’ initiative started in 2007 in Nairobi and expanded to Mombasa in 2021. The event now takes place in five major cities: Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Machakos. The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Musinga, called for the support of the translation project, saying it is important for every community in the country to receive the Bible in their language.
Justice Musinga added that translating the Bible into local languages would assist the Judiciary in fulfilling its mandate, as many rural residents struggle to communicate in either English or Kiswahili. He further said, ‘these translations will help eliminate the language barriers experienced in courts.’ He also encouraged parents to allow their children to learn and use their mother tongues, saying those under the age of ten years can learn multiple languages.
BTL provides various literacy programmes focused on developing language materials in mother tongues and training teachers and supervisors. Currently, BTL’s literacy initiatives are undertaken within the Duruma, Digo, Pokomo, Orma, and Waata languages. The organisation has received recognition from UNESCO and the Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education for its significant contributions to literacy development.