NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 1 \u2014 The government has commenced the registration of over 5,000 members of the Pemba Community ahead of conferment of Kenyan citizenship following President William Ruto\u2019s directive.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Kilifi County on Wednesday, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said Kenya will review statelessness of other unrecognized communities living in Kenya.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s event therefore marks the official commencement of an important occasion and the implementation of the President\u2019s directive. The grant of citizenship means the Pemba now are officially recognized as a Kenyan community with all the rights and benefits conferred by our nationality,\u201d Bitok said.<\/p>\n
The registration follows President Ruto\u2019s formal recognition of the Pemba as an ethnic community in Kenya on January 31, 2023.<\/p>\n
In a Special Gazette Notice, the President said that the Kenyans of the Pemba Heritage will now be issued with relevant identification in accordance with the Constitution.<\/p>\n