The Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Community Bill 2025 and Draft Policy on Minorities have been created to foster inclusivity and protect the rights of minorities and marginalized communities in Kenya.
The Bill and Draft Policy, aligns with Kenya Kwanza administration’s transformative plan to legislate on ethnic minorities and marginalized communities anchored in Articles 10, 56 and 260 of the Constitution, Director of Governance within the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit (MMAU), Mr Abdi Kahiya, has said.
He said that the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service through MMAU and a Technical Working Committee had developed the Draft Policy and Bill on ethnic minorities.
The bill, Mr Kahiya indicated, seeks to shift Kenya’s development from historical exclusion to equitable inclusion, recognizing that sustainable growth and national cohesion depend on full participation of all communities.
Speaking at the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner’s plenary hall in Nakuru, during a public participation exercise where institutions, organizations and individuals submitted their comments on the two documents, the Director said the Bill and Draft Policy aim to address historical injustices and promote equality by providing for affirmative action programs for these groups in areas like governance, education, and access to resources and services, in line with Article 56 of the constitution.
“The Constitution obligates the State to ensure minorities’ participation in governance, educational and economic opportunities, employment access, cultural preservation, and basic services. Kenya needs a clear policy and legal framework to effectively implement constitutional provisions for these groups,” stated Mr Kahiya.
The proposed statute provides for the preservation and promotion of the cultural values, languages, and practices of these communities and provides a framework that will ensure reasonable access to essential services like water, healthcare, and infrastructure
