NAIROBI- The registration of members of the Pemba community as citizens of Kenya kicked off in Kilifi today with around 5,000 expected to benefit from the exercise.

Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok who launched the exercise at the Karisa Maitha grounds in Kilifi said the registration was intended to end ‘statelessness’ that the Pemba have been condemned to for decades.

With the recognition of citizenship, the community can now benefit from the rights and privileges of citizenship including access to important registration documents such as Identity Cards (IDs) and the Kenyan passport that the Pemba could not access before, he said.

“We want the Pemba community to take full advantage of their new status to fully integrate social-economically with the rest of Kenyan communities. We want them to pursue their full potential without the hindrances associated with ‘statelessness”, he said.

Launched the registration for Kenyan Citizenship of members of the Pemba Community following President @WilliamsRuto 's directive in Kilifi County.

The decision to recognize the Pemba community is part of the gov't's deliberate move to ending statelessness within the country. pic.twitter.com/TfgfqUmfW1

— Julius Kibet Bitok (@JuliusKBitok) March 1, 2023

The exercise to register the Pemba follows a proclamation by President William Ruto on January, 30th 2023 that conferred citizenship to the community that traces its origins to the Island of Pemba.

Members of the community that is famous for its seafaring and fishing skills has a rich history of interacting and intermarrying with Kenyan coastal communities especially in Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale with many settling in these counties.

The upheavals triggered by the Zanzibar revolution in 1964 forced Pembas to flee to Kenya and many opted not to go back even after political order was restored in the Island.

With the registration, the Pemba become the third community to be granted Kenyan citizenship in the last decade after the Shona and the Makonde.

PS Bitok whose docket is responsible for issuance of vital registration documents including birth certificates, IDs and passports said the government will review the fate of around 6,000 living in the country but whose communities are unrecognized and are therefore regarded as stateless.

Speaking at the same event, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mungaro said the recognition will protect Pemba fishermen from the alleged discrimination and harassment by law enforcers.

Nimeshuhudia Uzinduzi wa Usajili wa jamii ya Wapemba uliofanyika katika uwanja wa Karisa Maitha Kilifi mjini, kwenye hafla iliyoongozwa na Katibu Mkuu wa Uhamiaji na Huduma kwa Wananchi Balozi Prof.Julius Bitok.@JuliusKBitok @Refugees @StateHouseKenya @HonMbetsa pic.twitter.com/y0INQRG9fU

— Gideon M. Mung'aro, OGW (@GideonMungaroM) March 1, 2023

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya who spearheaded the Parliamentary legislation that paved way for the Presidential decree on the Pemba urged the government to consider the community for state jobs under the marginalized groups category.

The event was also attended by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees representative to Kenya, Ms Caroline Buren.

Via MINA Press.