Asians Officially Become Kenya's 44th Tribe

Kenyans of Asian origin have officially been gazetted as the Kenya's 44rd tribe. President Uhuru Kenyatta in a gazette notice dated July 22nd said that the community has become an integral part of the national fabric.

"All persons, bodies and authorities within the Republic of Kenya shall recognize the community of Kenyans of Asian heritage as being Kenya's 44th tribe," Uhuru said.

A human rights activist Farah Manzoor said she has been fighting for the inclusion of the Asian community as Kenyans for five years.

“The people who have supported this petition with me have done it on their own individual capacities and have expressed this in the Freedom of the Right of Expression as enshrined in the Bills of Rights of our Constitution,” Farah said.

Farah held a meeting with members of the Asian communities in January and briefed them about the petition. Hindus, Muslims – Sunni and Shia – Sikhs, Bohra and Goans attended the meeting.

This comes barely months after a directive by the head of state that enabled eligible stateless Makonde people to issued with national ID cards, making them country's 43rd tribe.