Kwale: Leaders and residents from minority communities in the Coast region have commended President William Ruto for championing equal opportunities through the nomination of Dr. Abdillahi Saggaf Alawy, a member of the Vumba community in Kwale County, as Chairperson of the National Land Commission (NLC). The appointment has been described as a landmark move that demonstrates the President’s commitment to integrating historically marginalised groups into national leadership and development processes.
According to Kenya News Agency, Hilal Mohamed Kassim, a community leader, noted that since Kenya’s independence in 1963, minority communities such as the Vumba, Masi, and Shirazi have rarely featured in key national roles across four presidencies. He credited President Ruto with changing this trend through deliberate inclusion. Kassim expressed gratitude for what he termed divine favour extended to the community through the Head of State’s actions and affirmed that the nomination has brought immense joy and pride to the Vumba people.
Community members also highlighted several development interventions in the region as further proof of the President’s focus on marginalised areas. These include the commissioning of electricity projects in Wasini Island, ongoing rehabilitation of roads connecting Kanana to Shimoni and Kanana to Majoreni, and initiatives to establish at least one secondary school in each village to improve access to education. Allawy Abzein, representing the community, described the nomination as a historic milestone for the Vumba people and praised Dr. Alawy’s credentials.
Mwantumu Siasa Mohammed, a resident of Vanga, said the appointment would help tackle persistent challenges faced by the community, especially in land matters. Sharif Hassan, another resident from Vanga, recounted how representatives of minority groups, including the Vumba, Makonde, Shirazi, Haya, and Ata, had presented their concerns at Bomas and were invited to the State House for direct dialogue with the President. Hassan noted the swift response as evidence of a leader who listens and acts decisively, as seen in the nomination of Dr. Saggaf Alawy to chair the NLC.