The Future of Languages of Kenya: Adopting the Principles of Environmental Conservation Kibiwott Peter Kurgat School of Arts and Sciences United States International University P.O. Box 14634 Nairobi 00800 Email: pkurgat@usiu.ac.ke Abstract The problems facing local languages in Africa are akin to challenges faced by conservationists dealing with the environment. In other words, the problems attendant to conservation can be shown to inform challenges facing linguistic diversity in Africa. Issues that have been seen as inimical to the development and promotion of the local languages include current educational policies and uninformed politics that have acted as factors that inhibit at best and, at worst, frustrate any attempts to make mother tongues an important part of national development. Suggested solutions to environmental conservation can therefore be seen to illuminate on appropriate (informed) solutions that can help a country harness its cultural and linguistic diversity for the betterment of society in general. Borrowing from the principles of conservation, suggestions are made that can be taken on board in order to stem the threat to linguistic diversity in the Kenya. Introduction This paper argues that African linguistic diversity is part of the world‟s heritage, which faces challenges and threats to its use as a sustainable resource in many ways akin to the world‟s biological heritage. It also argues that Africa‟s linguistic diversity is a complex issue that needs more than just an African solution. It requires concerted effort by all those who appreciate diversity as a resource to be treasured and who regard its sustenance as part of Africa‟s contribution to “building universal culture and general stock of knowledge” (Kembo-Sure 2002:28). Furthermore, Africa‟s development is hinged on Africa creating policies that will empower the majority, who are the primary users of this