Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has said Kenyans from minority groups in Kenya have a role to play in promoting tourism, even as she assured them of being integral to Kenya’s collective identity.
Speaking at Kenya’s second International Minorities Rights Day Commemoration at the Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday where she represented President William Ruto, CS Miano said the country’s history is “a tapestry sewn with the contributions of its minority communities”.
“This momentous occasion brought together delegates from across the country to celebrate our nation’s rich diversity, inclusivity and unity. Yet, there were times when these communities had to align themselves with larger groups to access recognition. Thankfully, our country has made significant progress and today, we affirm that every Kenyan, whether Ogiek, Boni or from any other group, is integral to our collective identity,” Miano said.
The CS further acknowledged that the 2010 Constitution calls for the empowerment of minorities and marginalized groups to preserve their values, languages and cultural practices.
“Living up to these principles will propel us closer to the free, equal and prosperous nation we are destined to be,” she said.
“I see immense potential in cultural tourism as a lifeline for minority communities. By preserving and promoting their unique traditions, we not only celebrate their heritage but also share it with the world, ensuring it thrives for generations to come. Cultural tourism offers a platform for minorities to tell their stories, display their artistry and affirm their place in our nation’s vibrant cultural mosaic”.
Miano added that by appreciating the contributions of the minority groups, Kenyans are reminded of the beauty in their diversity.
“Together, we can build a Kenya where every culture, belief and tradition is valued and upheld as part of our shared identity. When we stand together, embracing all parts of our identity, we are stronger and more resilient, ready to take Magical Kenya to even greater heights,” she added.
GOVERNMENT DOUBLE SPEAK
However, while CS Miano took note of the constitutional provisions regarding the minorities and the marginalized, the Kenyan government has been accused of ignoring their grievances.
For instance, the Ogiek accuse the government of failure to honour the African Court on Human and peoples’ Rights rulings of 2017 and 2022, further worsening their freedoms and rights.
In 2017, the African Court ruled that the Kenyan government had violated the Ogiek’s rights to life, property, natural resources, development, religion, and culture.
Five years later in 2022, the Court awarded reparations to the Ogiek for the systematic marginalization and oppression, ordering the Kenyan government to pay Sh57,850,000 as compensation for material prejudice and Sh100,000,000 for moral prejudice.
A hearing on November 12 on the status of the implementation of the hearing was adjourned after the Kenyan government asked for three months to demonstrate compliance.
Other communities such as the Endorois have also accused the Kenyan government of ignoring their plight.
The Kenyan government is yet to fully implement the recommendations of the African Commission’s 2010 decision on the rights of the Endorois, which was in favor of their demands that included reparations for the loss of their property, disruption to their culture, and right to practice their religion.
The Sengwer, who are hunters and gatherers, have also accused the government of violent evictions from their ancestral lands.
Other grievances by the minority communities include difficulties to register communal land, exclusion in carbon credits/markets, exclusion in political and public services spaces, lack of access to social amenities and loss of land.
