By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya joined other nations across the world to commemorate International Minorities Rights Day which is held on the 18th of every December. The event was held at the Bomas of Kenya.This day has been celebrated every year since 1992 by the United Nations to protect the rights of minority communities, and to ensure the protection of their language, caste, religion, culture, tradition and many more.
The main objective of this day was to raise awareness about the issues faced by minority communities and promote their rights.
The Declaration was influenced by Article 27 of the International Convent on Civil and Political Rights, which is the most widely accepted legally binding provision on minorities.
Speaking during the event, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano said,” If we can live up to the Constitution, we will have taken a mighty step towards becoming the free, equal, and prosperous nation that we are destined to be.”
These words she highlighted after reflecting on the two stories of Makhan Singh – an unsung hero of Kenya’s freedom struggles and the Ogiek who not too long won a resounding judgement entitling them to compensation for their land.
Advisor to the president on matters women and children within the office of the president, Harriet Chiggai said,”As one, what does that means? Is that we have to bring everybody together. Everybody must be able to benefit within the structures that government has put in place. And that is why for us, the marginalized communities, then becomes a key entry point because they have been forgotten for long. But this government is saying, we have to work with everybody on matters law and the legal, Um, the legal Structures that are, they are the Constitution really article 51 talks at length on matters, equality.”
“This government has said be recognized And that is why government has brought all of this marginalized communities. And they’re more than 80 together. That is a big milestone because first step is recognition After you’ve been recognized,” said Chiggai.
“The Nubian Community for a long time had been forgotten but now, the Nubian Community were actually gazetted, ” she said.
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The day was marked with songs, dances, and the display of cultural artifacts, providing a platform for communities to celebrate their cultural heritage.
