Rwanda stands out as a nation blessed with a linguistic gift that many other countries can only envy: a unitary national language. Kinyarwanda is it is our everyday tool of communication, understanding, and unity, on top of being our cultural cornerstone.
And yet, its presence in public service delivery still lags behind, often overshadowed by foreign languages that few Rwandans use fluently or prefer in day-to-day interactions. This paradox is unfortunate and a missed opportunity.
Recent steps by the government to promote the use of Kinyarwanda in service delivery are both timely and necessary. Deliberate efforts are underway to ensure Kinyarwanda is not just a ceremonial symbol of national identity but a functional medium through which citizens access government services.
This is a powerful shift that deserves widespread support not only from policymakers, but from every public institution and civil servant.
The benefits of strengthening Kinyarwanda in public service delivery are obvious and urgent. It promotes inclusion, boosts citizen engagement, and ensures clarity in communication. Most importantly, it affirms the dignity of every Rwandan by acknowledging that their native language is fully capable of handling the complex and formal needs of governance, justice, education, and beyond.
We must be candid, however: change will only take root if it begins at the top. Leaders and public officials must take it upon themselves to set the tone. If a government minister issues statements exclusively in English or French in a local setting, or if a district office displays signage that only speaks to the elite few, the message sent is clear and damaging.
The message you send is that Kinyarwanda is secondary. It says that those who are not fluent in foreign languages are second-class citizens in their own country.
There is no excuse for this. Walk into some public institutions and you will see signs that read "Exit,” "Reception,” or "Customer Care” without any accompanying Kinyarwanda translation. These words are not technical terms.
They are not so complex that Kinyarwanda equivalents don’t exist. "Sohoka,” "Iyakiriro,” and "Serivisi ku Bakiriya” are perfectly adequate and far more accessible to the average Rwandan.
Contrast this with platforms like Irembo, which have taken a proactive step to provide services in Kinyarwanda. The result? Greater accessibility, broader usage, and a more empowered citizenry.
By embracing our national language, Irembo has not only simplified processes but also sent a powerful signal: that every Rwandan deserves to engage with their government in the language they know best.
This is the kind of leadership we need across all sectors—bold, inclusive, and proud of who we are. It is time we stopped treating Kinyarwanda as merely a cultural ornament and recognised it as the tool of governance it was always meant to be.
The foundations have been laid. Now it is up to us, especially those in decision-making positions to ensure the language of the people becomes the language of public service.
Let Kinyarwanda lead the way.