The Nubian community in Kenya is set to receive long-awaited formal recognition as an integral part of the nation’s social fabric. President William Ruto made the announcement on Tuesday during an Iftar dinner he hosted at State House, affirming that the process of integrating the Nubians into mainstream Kenyan society would be concluded this year.
According to Ruto, the recognition will be completed by either Madaraka Day on June 1 or Jamhuri Day on December 12. The move will officially make the Nubians the 43rd tribe in Kenya, granting them long-overdue acknowledgment as a distinct ethnic community.
“Our Nubian brothers and sisters are solid members of the Kenyan society,” said Ruto. “They are going to be mainstreamed into the Kenyan community this year, and we shall conclude the exercise of them being formally recognized as part of our nation.”
The Nubian community, estimated to number over 100,000, has long struggled with issues of statelessness, limited access to citizenship, and challenges in education and employment. Despite their historical presence in the country, they have faced systemic exclusion and legal hurdles in obtaining national identity cards and land ownership rights.
Many Kenyan Nubians reside in Kibera, Nairobi’s largest informal settlement, as well as in other urban centers like Kisumu and Mombasa. Their history in Kenya dates back to the early 1900s when they were settled in the country as soldiers serving in the British colonial army.
Ruto emphasized that his government is committed to fostering inclusivity and unity among all Kenyans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation. He assured that Kenya’s governance system has enough room for everyone, and no one should be excluded to make way for others.
“We can all fit in, and nobody needs to walk out for somebody else to come in,” Ruto stated. “If there is anyone who was doubting, we now have a broad-based government, and it is not yet full.”
Additionally, Ruto addressed concerns within the Muslim community regarding the management of Waqf, an Islamic endowment system, assuring that pending issues would be resolved within months.
The recognition of the Nubians marks a historic moment in Kenya’s journey toward inclusivity and social justice, granting them long-sought acceptance as equal citizens.
