The vision of the Department is to be an exemplary department that delivers high quality teaching, research and consultancies in connection with the Swahili Language and Linguistics. The Department builds on the successes of the former Department of Kiswahili and Institute of Kiswahili Research which merged to form the Institute of Kiswahili Studies in 2009. In order to carry out this vision, the Department has the following important tasks in accordance with University requirements:

1. To teach  undergraduate linguistics programs (for BA Kiswahili and BAED, etc. degrees), the Masters linguistics program, and the PhD linguistic program in order to prepare experts in the teaching, researching, and consulting in Kiswahili and other Bantu languages.
2. To research into Kiswahili linguistics and other Bantu languages to contribute to knowledge of the structure of these languages, their interaction and their relation with extra-linguistic phenomena.
3. To engage in high quality consultancies on Swahili language and linguistics for various government and non-governmental departments, institutions and institutes.

In fulfilling these responsibilities, Departmental Staff take part in activities planned by two Centers which have a close relationship with the department: (1) the Center for Terminology, Translation, Interpretation and Language Technology, and (2) the Center for Kiswahili Dictionary and Grammar.