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Hiiraan Online Today from Hiiraan Online: Somali Music advertisements Wajir residents engage in national inclusion policy consultations FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail By Hamdi Buthul Saturday October 25, 2025 The government has intensified public consultations on the proposed National Policy for Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities (2025–2035), which aims to address historical injustices and promote equality and inclusion of minority, marginalised, and stateless communities across the country. Deputy Director for Advisory and Community Liaison in the Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit (MMAU) within the Executive Office of the President, Mr Moses Ole Kachike, said the policy seeks to operationalise Article 56 of the Constitution through affirmative action in governance, education, and equitable access to resources and services. Speaking during a public participation forum held at Wajir Primary School, Mr Kachike said the exercise is being conducted concurrently across 30 counties to ensure that the final policy reflects the needs and voices of communities that have historically been excluded from national development. “The President, His Excellency Dr William Ruto, established this special unit to address issues affecting minorities, marginalised, and stateless persons. We are developing a policy and legal framework to safeguard their rights and inclusion,” said Mr Kachike. He said copies of the draft policy had been shared with stakeholders beforehand to enable review and feedback during the consultative meetings. “Today we are collecting comments and recommendations from community representatives, which will be consolidated and forwarded to Nairobi for inclusion in the final document. This will ensure that when the President launches the policy, it will represent the voices of all affected communities,” he added. Mr Kachike noted that over 21 minority groups, including the Laysan, Harti, Harab, Barawa, Abgal, and Shekal communities participated in the Wajir session. He commended their active engagement, noting that this is the first structured national effort since independence to directly address the concerns of minority and marginalised communities. National Chairperson of the Minorities and Marginalised Communities Network, Ms Khadija Ali Muhammad, welcomed the government’s initiative, describing it as a major milestone in advancing inclusivity. “We are very grateful to President Ruto for acknowledging and giving us a platform to express our voices. For the first time since 1963, we feel included and hopeful,” said Ms Khadija. Mr Badar Ahmed, representing the Arab community, one of Wajir’s oldest indigenous groups, said the forum provided an opportunity to identify gaps in the draft policy and suggest ways to strengthen representation and inclusion. “We have shared our views on how minority groups can be better integrated into national affairs. We appreciate the government for recognising us as equal citizens,” he said. Ms Habiba Sharif Yahya, from the Asharaf community, hailed the proposed policy as a historic step towards equality and social justice. “This is the first administration to recognise our community. We have reviewed the draft and believe its implementation will greatly benefit minority groups across the country,” she said. Opinion| Privacy Policy|Sports|Somali Music|Somali Map All Rights Reserved Copyright. © 1999-2025, www.hiiraan.com
