Taita Taveta’s Pare community appeals for formal recognition as a tribe in Kenya
Published: 16/Jan/2025
Source: The Eastleigh Voice (Nairobi)
By Maureen Kinyanjui
Despite previous attempts to address the issue, including a letter sent to the President, the community has yet to receive an official response.
Members of the Pare community, who mainly live in Taita Taveta County, have formally petitioned the government for recognition as a distinct Kenyan tribe, seeking full legal status and citizenship.
The petition, submitted to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki by Taveta MP John Bwire on behalf of the community on Tuesday, highlights their long-standing presence and contributions to the region’s social and cultural landscape.
In their petition titled “Public Petition for the Recognition of the Pare Tribe as a Tribe in Kenya”, the community stresses that they have been an integral part of Taveta Constituency for generations, residing primarily in villages such as Jipe, Mata, Marodo, Ngutini, Kitoghoto, Eldoro, Kitobo, and Madarasani.
The petition seeks formal acknowledgement, drawing comparisons to the recognition recently granted to other minority communities like the Shona, Pemba, and Makonde.