The community, represented by Taveta MP John Bwire, filed the petition, citing their long-standing presence in the country and desire to be naturalised as Kenyan citizens.
The petition draws parallels to the Shona community’s formal recognition as a Kenyan tribe in recent years.
It emphasises the Pare people’s significant cultural and social contributions, who are primarily concentrated in villages such as Jipe, Mata, Marodo, Ngutini, Kitoghoto, Eldoro, Kitobo, and Madarasani within Taveta Constituency.
In the petition titled “Public Petition for the Recognition of the Pare Tribe as a Tribe in Kenya,” the community emphasises the Government’s constitutional duty to promote and protect Kenya’s cultural heritage, as enshrined in Articles 11 and 44 of the Constitution.
The petition emphasises that the Pare people have been a part of Taveta Constituency’s social fabric since time immemorial, contributing significantly to the local and national economies.
Despite this, they have yet to be officially recognised as Kenyan citizens, leaving them out of critical national processes.
The document also states that the community has previously written to the President, but they have yet to receive a formal response regarding their status.
MP Bwire, on behalf of the Pare community, has called for immediate action to address this oversight, urging the government to formally recognise the Pare as a tribe of Kenya.
According to the petition, this recognition is consistent with national values and governance principles that prioritise inclusivity, equality, and diversity.
Furthermore, the petition requests that this recognition be formalised and gazetted so that the Pare community is fully integrated into the country’s legal framework.
The community also calls on all individuals, bodies, and authorities in the Republic of Kenya to recognise and treat the Pare people as an essential component of the country’s ethnic mosaic.
By Tonny Ndungu
