Freedom has come for 7,000 members of the Pemba community who have lived in Kenya for decades with no document to prove their citizenship.
The community which is domiciled in Coast has been suffering due to lack of crucial documents have always denied them critical government and social services.
However, when Kenya was celebrating its 59th Jamhuri Day, President William Ruto said he has commenced the process to confer citizenship to the Pemba people living in Kilifi County.
The community has been renewing its calls to the government to recognise them as Kenyans.
“The Government of Kenya has commenced the process to confer citizenship to the Pemba people living in Kilifi County,” said the Head of State while celebrating 59 years of Kenya’s self-rule.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has been urging the Parliament to recognize the community that originated from Tanzania.
The National Assembly had adopted the report by the National Security and Administration Committee to grant Pembas citizenship.
Led by MP Baya and activists had earlier petitioned government to review the long-standing push for recognition of Pembas as Kenyans.
In 2016, both Makonde and Pembas marched to statehouse calling an end to statelessness.
The Makonde were later granted citizenship but Pembas were left out because they couldn't convince the government why they should be given citizenship.
