Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Super minorities are members of very small ethnic groups whose population ranges from 100 to 800. Together they are in tens of thousands but they all feel forgotten.

During the next elections in December they are seeking political representation and are hoping to win one or more nomination seats in Parliament where some non-elective seats are usually set aside to cater for interest groups. This will be an enormous challenge because the seats are also being sought by powerful lobbies by groups who also feel marginalized including women, youth, professional associations, pastoralists, and people with disabilities.


Access to public sphere

The Kenyan constitution guarantees equal rights for everyone and eschews discrimination on the basis of tribe. However, these minorities cannot compete where access to education and jobs in the public service is determined on the basis of regional quotas. Their numbers are just too insignificant. Most of them traditionally led their lives as hunters and gatherers, but the forests in which they resided and earned their livelihood are legally public property. They were evicted to pave way to others when parts of these forests were excised in order to settle squatters from farming communities.

On 27 May 2007 Kenya’s Centre for Multiparty Democracy, an NIMD partner, hosted a meeting for Kenya’s super minorities. The groups called for recognition and affirmative action including nomination to Parliament and local authorities, increased bursaries, investment in infrastructure in their areas, enhanced security, restoration of indigenous land which was taken away by the government and compensation for several perceived injustices meted on them by successive governments.

The meeting helped them to articulate their demands and prepare a petition for the constitutional committee currently looking at minimum reforms ahead of the general elections later this year.