Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has praised Bible Translation & Literacy (BTL) Kenya for its pivotal role in preserving indigenous languages and promoting literacy, during the 2025 Machakos Run for the Bibleless. Addressing a diverse crowd of church leaders, educators, corporate sponsors, and spirited participants, CS Ogamba underscored the importance of language and scripture in shaping Kenya’s moral and cultural identity.
“The values espoused in the Bible love, kindness, good neighbourliness, generosity, humility, and honour are worth promoting,” said Ogamba. “This Run is more than a fundraiser; it’s an investment in community identity and moral values.”
BTL Kenya, a faith-based organization, is dedicated to translating the Bible into Kenya’s indigenous languages. To date, it has successfully completed six full Bible translations and 11 New Testaments. The organization is currently working on translations in 20 more Kenyan languages and nine additional languages in Tanzania and South Sudan.
The Machakos Run aimed to raise Ksh5 million to fund ongoing translation projects, particularly for underrepresented communities such as the Ogiek, Rabai, Ribe, Samburu, Daasanach, and Rendille. Ogamba revealed that translating a single verse costs around Ksh4,000, and completing a New Testament typically takes a decade and around Ksh35 million.
“It is expensive, but it’s a worthy cause,” Ogamba noted. “Every verse translated brings hope, light, and cultural preservation.”
The CS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding Kenya’s constitutional mandate to protect and promote indigenous languages. He emphasized the need to support organizations like BTL, which not only safeguard linguistic heritage but also bolster community cohesion and education through faith-based literacy.
Ogamba also applauded the turnout and unity demonstrated at the event, calling on Kenyans to embrace linguistic diversity as a national treasure. “Language is a vessel of culture, and when we preserve it, we preserve the soul of a people,” he said.
The Machakos Run for the Bibleless served as a powerful reminder of the role language plays in nation-building, spiritual development, and cultural identity.
