Kenya's Shona-speaking People Plead With Uhuru Kenyatta Over Citizenship
The Shona community in Kenya has pleaded with the country’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, to be granted citizenship.
The Shona-speaking people reportedly migrated from Zimbabwe to Kenya in the 1960s and founded the Gospel of God Church.
It is estimated that the Shona population is now 5 000. The Shona have sought to be granted citizenship during the successive Presidency of Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki but nothing has been done hitherto.
Speaking during a press conference recently, Kinoo MCA Samuel Kimani said:
These people cannot register a business or enter the formal job market. They can’t own property, access education, health care, financial services and relief supplies among other vital human needs.
They have challenges of acquiring birth certificates for their children to be enrolled in nursery schools, register for KCPE and KCSE too.
The Shona people are thinly spread across Kinoo, Muguga, Gitaru and Githurai wards in Kiambu county as well as parts of the capital, Nairobi.