NAIROBI, Kenya- The Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage has dismissed claims that Ksh 100 million has been earmarked for the creation of a national dress.
In a firm statement, the Ministry labeled the circulating reports as false, clarifying that no such funds have been allocated at this time.
Reports had alleged that Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir made comments about the substantial budget being set aside for the national dress initiative.
However, the Ministry was quick to refute these claims. “Principal Secretary for Culture, the Arts & Heritage Ummi Bashir has not made any such remarks regarding a budgetary allocation for the national dress,” read the statement.
The Ministry emphasized that no budget has been determined for this project, and PS Bashir reiterated that it’s premature to discuss figures when there is no formal budget in place.
While the national dress concept continues to be a topic of conversation, no financial commitments have been made.
In its statement, the Ministry also assured the public of its commitment to transparency. They encouraged Kenyans not to be swayed by misleading reports and cautioned against sensationalizing a process that is still in its early stages.
“We are dedicated to maintaining integrity in this matter and encourage responsible reporting as public consultations are ongoing,” the Ministry added.
This engagement with citizens is aimed at ensuring that the proposed national dress will genuinely reflect Kenya’s diverse culture and heritage.
PS Bashir has been actively involved in these consultations, listening to ideas from the public, but as of now, there is no budget attached to the initiative.
The Ministry made it clear that while progress is being made, financial discussions will come at a later stage.
The idea of a national dress isn’t new. Back in 2004, then-Minister Najib Balala spearheaded the concept, hoping to establish a national attire that would unify Kenya’s cultural identity. However, despite the idea being floated nearly two decades ago, it has yet to materialize.
