Rumuruti: Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has assured marginalized communities in the country of the government’s commitment to uplifting their livelihoods. Miano, who was speaking in Rumuruti, Laikipia County, during the Minority Festival, pledged that through her ministry, she would ensure minorities would not be neglected as they had been in the past.
According to Kenya News Agency, Miano emphasized her ministry’s dedication to working with various sectors such as the Tourism Fund, the Bomas of Kenya, and the Kenya Wildlife Service to ensure that all communities benefit from government support. Laikipia North Member of Parliament Sarah Korere also addressed the community, advising against selling their lands and vowing to reclaim any grabbed land by all means necessary. She stressed the importance of unity among residents to better access government resources.
Korere praised President Dr. William Ruto for restoring peace in the region after prolonged conflicts, resulting in development projects like the Huduma Centre and market construction. Uasin Gichu Senator Jackson Mandago echoed the call for unity, urging minorities to work harmoniously to secure opportunities and support from governors.
Additionally, Josphat Lowoi, Head of the Executive Office of the President, Minority and Marginalized Affairs Unit, highlighted the existing minority policy’s role in facilitating equal resource distribution. He announced a presidential pledge of Sh500 million in bursaries for education among marginalized communities in the financial year 2026/2027 and the enrollment of over two hundred thousand minority individuals in the Social Health Insurance scheme.
The festival featured participation from various communities, including the Yiaku, Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Maasai, Borana, and Kalenjin, who showcased their cultural artifacts, songs, dances, and way of life. Other leaders present included Baringo Senator Vincent Chemitei, former National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo, and other high-ranking government officials.
