Kenya is moving to entrench the rights and inclusion of minorities and marginalised communities in law, with President William Samoei Ruto announcing a series of policy and funding measures aimed at promoting equity, access to services and shared prosperity.

Speaking at State House Nairobi during the commemoration of the UN International Day for Minorities, President Ruto said Cabinet has approved the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous Peoples, and Marginalised Communities, which will soon be launched. The policy establishes a clear legal and institutional framework to protect minority rights and support inclusive national development.

As part of the new measures, government has introduced a KSh500 million National Minority Scholarship Programme to support children from vulnerable minority communities to access secondary and tertiary education. In addition, the Ministry of Education will allocate KSh200 million annually towards an Education Infrastructure Fund to build, upgrade and equip schools and colleges in marginalised areas.

To improve access to healthcare, the State will also cover Social Health Authority contributions for 200,000 vulnerable people drawn from minority and marginalised communities.

President Ruto said the initiatives underscore government’s commitment to dignity, equity and leaving no Kenyan behind, noting that the place of minorities in the nation will no longer depend on individual discretion but will be firmly anchored in law.