Kenya to mark Minorities Rights Day at Bomas of Kenya

Kenya will join the rest of the world in commemorating the Minorities Rights Day on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.

The event, which is organized by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service (COS&HOPS), aims to raise awareness about the rights and challenges of various minority and marginalized groups in the country.

The theme of this year's celebration is "Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Minorities and Marginalized Communities in Kenya".

According to the NGEC, the event will bring together representatives from different ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural minorities and marginalized communities, as well as government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, and the media.

The Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Mr. Felix Koskei, will be the chief guest at the event. He will deliver a keynote speech on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is expected to join the event virtually.

In a statement, Mr. Koskei said that the event demonstrates the government's commitment and solidarity with the minority and marginalized groups, who have often faced discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization in various spheres of life.

He said that the government has taken various measures to ensure that the rights and interests of these groups are respected and protected, in line with the Constitution and the international obligations.

Mr. Koskei cited the enactment of the Public Service (Values and Principles) Act, 2023, which provides for the representation of minorities and marginalized groups in the public service, as well as the establishment of the Public Entities Oversight Office, which monitors the compliance of public entities with the values and principles of public service.

He also highlighted the implementation of the Zero Fault Audit Regime for the Financial Year 2023/2024, which aims to enhance accountability and transparency in the management of public resources, especially for the benefit of the minority and marginalized groups.

According to him, all stakeholders to work together to promote and protect the rights of minorities and marginalized communities in Kenya, and to foster a culture of tolerance, diversity, and inclusion in the society.

He said that the government will continue to support the initiatives and programmes of the NGEC and other partners in advancing the agenda of minorities and marginalized groups in the country.

The event will also feature presentations from various speakers, panel discussions, cultural performances, and the launch of the Public Service Exemplary Leaders - Stellar Performance Awards Scheme (PSEL-SPAS), which recognizes and rewards public servants who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service delivery.

The Minorities Rights Day is observed annually on December 18, to mark the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities in 1992.

The declaration affirms the rights of minorities to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, and to use their own language, in private and in public, freely and without interference or any form of discrimination.

The declaration also calls upon states to protect the existence and identity of minorities, to ensure their effective participation in public life, and to promote respect for their rights and interests.