Ruto to Host 5,000 Delegates from Minority Communities at State House

President William Ruto will on Thursday host about 5,000 delegates drawn from marginalised and minority communities in an event marking the International Day for Minority Rights at State House, Nairobi.

The delegates, expected from across the country, will attend the event dressed in their traditional regalia, in a show of Kenya’s cultural diversity.

The government says the celebration forms part of President Ruto’s policy to mainstream minority and marginalised groups in national development, in line with United Nations requirements for the day, which was established in 1992 and is marked annually on December 18.

On Monday, eight Principal Secretaries met Presidential Head of Special Projects and the Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, at his Nyari office to finalise preparations for the event. The meeting announced that delegates will be transported from at least 38 of the country’s 47 counties to attend the State House fete.

Communities set to be represented include the Ndorobo, Ogiek, Dasenach, Njemps, Walwana, Rendille, Burji, El Molo, Sakuye, Suba, Kuria, Makonde, Shona and Nubians, among others.

“This is the first time in 30 years that minorities are getting the recognition they require,” Wildlife Principal Secretary Sylvia Museiya said.

Itumbi noted that President Ruto has established a dedicated department in the Office of the President to handle issues affecting minorities and marginalised groups. He also invited journalists from minority communities to attend the event in their traditional attire.

“I am asking even you journalists to identify a colleague from the minority communities to dress in their traditional attire and attend the event,” Itumbi said.

Among those who attended the planning meeting were PS Museiya, Umi Bashir (Culture, Arts and Heritage), Fikirini Jacobs (Youth and Creative Economy), Idris Dakota (Cabinet Office), and Abdihakim Kahiya, Director of the Minority and Marginalised Affairs Unit, alongside other officials.

Article 56 of the Constitution mandates the State to put in place affirmative action programmes to ensure minorities and marginalised groups participate in governance and other spheres of life.

 It also requires the provision of special opportunities in education, economic empowerment and employment, as well as support for the development of cultural values, languages and practices.

Despite these constitutional provisions, many marginalised communities continue to face systemic discrimination, socio-economic exclusion and limited access to essential services. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2022 data, counties such as Turkana and Mandera record net primary school enrolment rates of just 43 per cent, compared to a national average of 91 per cent.

Further, the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS) 2020 indicates that poverty levels in these counties exceed 65 per cent, far above the national average of 36.1 per cent.

“Climate change, technological gaps and rapid urbanisation continue to worsen these inequalities, leaving minority and marginalised groups more vulnerable,” National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa said.