Hindus now become the 44th tribe in Kenya few months after the Wamakonde.
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The president, in the gazette notice of July 21, 2017, cited articles 11 and 44 of the Constitution that enshrines the duty of government to promote and protect the diverse cultural heritage of Kenya.
Speaking during the proclamation, acting Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i said that the community has been instrumental in the development of Kenya,
“Our Asian community has greatly contributed to the growth of Kenya. So we would love to have them part of us, so as they truly feel the part and parcel of Kenya as a family,” Matiang’i said.
Earlier, the Asian community in Kenya had petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to recognise them.
Farah Mannzoor, a human rights activist, argued that they had been seeking the inclusivity of the Asian community as Kenyan citizens for the last five years.
She argued that the petition seeking their recognition was signed by representatives of all the Asian communities before it was sent to Uhuru and the State Law office.
“The people who have supported this petition with me have done it on their own individual capacities and have expressed this in the Freedom of the Right of Expression as enshrined in the Bills of Rights of our Constitution,” Farah said.
Those who were agitating for recognition were Hindus, Muslims – Sunni and Shia – Sikhs, Bohra and Goans.