This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Published on July 13, 2019, by Philip Ochieng, a renowned author, this article delves into the complexities of the English language in East Africa.
When Kenya gained independence, English was chosen as the official language, but it has continued to cause problems for those who use it, even among the educated class.
One of the main issues is the use of prepositions, which can be particularly challenging for East Africans. A recent headline in the Daily Nation read, 'Dilemma of schoolchildren put at risk by their own loving parents.'
The author, Philip Ochieng, notes that the use of the word 'loving' in this context is not incorrect, but the phrase 'put at risk' is. In English, one would typically say 'put him or her to risk.'
Ochieng recalls his time at Alliance High School, where he was taught by a strict but fair headmaster, Edward Carey Francis. Francis was a strict disciplinarian who believed in excellence, and he chose his teachers wisely.
Among the teachers at Alliance High were Scotsman Laurie Campbell, Englishman Robin Hood, Kikuyu Joseph Kariuki, Englishman George Kingsnorth, Englishman David Martin, Luo Bethuel Ogot, and Luo Nicholas Otieno. Despite their different backgrounds, they were all deeply knowledgeable in their subjects and dedicated to their students.
However, Francis's views on racial differences were complex. He believed that Euro-Caucasians, Indo-Pakistanis, and Afro-Negroes had different 'wavelengths,' but he never practiced or preached racial prejudice.
