Lugha Kama Kitambulisho: Changamoto ya Sheng Nchini Kenya

Abstract

The paper takes a critical look at the fast developing and spreading Kenyan street slang, popularly known as “Sheng”, which basically is a youth code that makes use of coined or borrowed words from Kiswahili, English and other local languages. Sheng adopts the structure of Kiswahili syntax. After tracing the historical origins of the urban youth code which now has speakers in the country side and as far afield as Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the discussion shifts to the assessment of the negative impacts of sheng on the learning and teaching of standard Kiswahili and especially, English in Kenya. It concludes by raising crucial questions and issues that need to be considered in an attempt to contain usage of sheng and mitigate its negative effects on the national and official languages which are the medium of formal education and business.