ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL
In the 1977, the University (Then Kenyatta College) celebrated the Annual Cultural Festival for the first time. It was after the realization that the 25 different departments were organizing and celebrating separate creative and cultural activities and performances at the departmental level. The then Director of the College, Prof. Ishmael Omondi, saw the need to bring all these celebrations under one festival. There was dire need of an avenue to discover, develop and express their rich and varied talent. Hence, the birth of the Annual Cultural Festival. This was geared towards bringing together the students and staff thereby ensuring cohesion, integration and promotion of unity while appreciating different talents and cultural diversity. Mr David Mulwa, the first Director of the Planning Committee in charge of organizing the celebrations, nurtured and ensured the growth of the festivals through music, dance, exhibitions, and fashion, among other cultural expressions. Notably, in the year 1978, the second President of the Republic of Kenya-the Late President Moi, graced the occasion as a Chief-Guest, after assuming power. The Cultural Festival celebrations were marked yearly until 1992, when the festival`s name was changed to Kenyatta University Culture Week festival.
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY CULTURE WEEK FESTIVAL
As it was rebranded by the then Vice-chancellor-Prof. George Eshiwani, opened the doors for local and international guest performers. With Kenyatta University’s vast population, there existed a huge potential and talent base amongst the University Community that could be identified and be trained thereby exploiting this great potential, as well as enhancing the University objectives of stimulating cultural and intellectual life of the society.
Kenyatta University Culture Week is a festival that provides such an opportunity for her community and by extension Kenya and the entire world to celebrate her great cultural wealth. The festival, since 1992, takes the audience through a journey of Kenyan and selected World cultures and traditions through a variety of Creative and Cultural Expressions from time honored traditions to the modern-day customs.