Kenya said Saturday it had granted formal recognition to
citizens of Indo-Pakistani origin, with President Uhuru Kenyatta making
them a 44th tribe.
"I do hereby recognise, proclaim and
order, 1. That Kenyans of Asian Heritage constitute a Community that is
one of the Tribes of Kenya; 2. That from now henceforth the Community
of Kenyans of Asian Heritage are Kenya's 44th Tribe," declared Kenyatta
in a proclamation which appeared in the official presidential journal
made public on Saturday.
The term "Asian community" in
Kenya generally designates those of Indo-Pakistani origin who made their
homes in the country from the late 19th Century as the then British
colonial power was constructing a first railway link from the port of
Mombasa to Kampala in Uganda.
According to Kenya's most
recent census of 2009, the South Asian community numbers some 46,000
people. Estimates suggest there are a further 35,000 in the country who
do not have citizenship.
Earning constitutional
recognition as an official tribe of the nation will make little material
difference to those concerned in that they already enjoy the same
rights and responsibilities as fellow citizens.
Many
are prosperous entrepreneurs in major urban centres in sectors such as
medicine, the pharmaceuticals industry or import-export.
But the decision, which follows several formal petitions from the community, is still of symbolic importance.
"No
one should discriminate against you, intimidate you or exclude you
unnecessarily from all the affairs of our nation," acting Interior
Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i told a Nairobi ceremony following the
proclamation.
He added that the recognition would
facilitate greater involvement at the highest echelons of society,
including political decision-making.
"The government
commends the community for its great sense of civic duty and its key
role in setting up learning and health institutions which serve to
supplement the government initiatives in that sector," added Dr
Matiang'i.
The
president's proclamation comes three weeks ahead of a General Election
slated for August 8 as he seeks to win a second mandate at the expense
of opposition rival Raila Odinga.
Polls suggest a tight contest, with some observers warning of potential for unrest.
A
decade ago, Kenya, generally known as a beacon of regional stability,
suffered two months of violent ethnic political unrest which left around
1,100 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
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