President William Ruto has confirmed Cabinet approval of the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous and Marginalised Communities, describing it as a decisive shift “from recognition to action” as Kenya marked International Minorities Rights Day at State House, Nairobi.
Speaking during the national commemoration, the President said the policy provides a comprehensive framework to operationalise Article 56 of the Constitution, which mandates affirmative action to ensure representation, protect culture and guarantee equitable access to opportunities for minorities and marginalised groups.
“For far too long, this constitutional promise has lacked a coherent and enforceable framework. Today, I am pleased to announce that Cabinet has approved this transformative blueprint,” he said.
The Head of State noted that the policy is the product of extensive nationwide consultations involving minority communities, civil society, county governments and experts, and directly responds to challenges raised during earlier commemorations.
He said its implementation marks a move from promises to delivery. “As we convene for the third consecutive year, we take a decisive step forward from recognition to action, and from promise to delivery,” he said.
Among the key pillars of the policy is the establishment of a Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate as a central coordinating unit across government, alongside legislation to create a National Council for Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities. This, President Ruto said, will guarantee a permanent and authoritative voice for minority concerns in every ministry and county government.
The policy also mandates affirmative action quotas in public service recruitment and public procurement, coupled with targeted investments in marginalised areas.
These include mobile schools for nomadic communities, affirmative action in tertiary education, vocational training and improved access to credit to support sustainable livelihoods.
“In the employment of civil servants, it will now be mandatory that minorities are included in line with the Constitution,” the President said.
To expand access to education, President Ruto announced the immediate establishment of a Sh500 billion National Minority Scholarship Programme, to be implemented in partnership with the private sector and development partners. The programme will support children from indigenous, minority and marginalised communities to access secondary and tertiary education, ensuring that poverty does not block talent.
To address historical land injustices, the policy accelerates the issuance of community land titles, establishes a digital registry to protect ancestral lands, and fast-tracks implementation of court rulings on land disputes. It also commits to protecting sacred sites, revitalising endangered languages and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into the national curriculum.
“Your heritage is our national heritage,” President Ruto said.
Recognising the compounded vulnerabilities faced by women, youth, persons with disabilities and elders within minority communities, the policy strengthens social protection, disability-inclusive infrastructure and measures to prevent gender-based violence.
It also allocates at least 30 per cent of county climate funds to community-led adaptation initiatives, acknowledging that minority communities are often hardest hit by climate change.
President Ruto further announced the elevation of the Minority and Marginalised Affairs Unit within the Office of the President into a semi-autonomous agency with legal and financial authority to coordinate implementation across government.
“Never again will minority and marginalised communities be an afterthought. You are central to our national identity, essential to our resilience and indispensable to our peace and prosperity,” he said.
