Nubian community in Kisumu County is pushing to have the government fully recognise and integrate them into the country’s social, economic and political fabric, citing decades of marginalisation and neglect.

During a public participation forum on the Draft National Policy and Bill on Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities, 2025, in Kisumu, the community’s leaders appealed to state to expedite the issuance of title deeds for land they have occupied for generations.

Historians says Nubians were originally brought by the British from Sudan in the 1850s to fight in the colonial army. Referred to as “king’s rifles” during the colonial times, the Nubians were loyal to the British until 1950 when the independence struggle started.

Despite their loyalty during the colonial period, it was the British initially that prevented the Nubians from being educated out of fear that they would agitate for their rights, says Ibrahim Athman, vice chairman of the  Kenyan Nubian Council.

Nubian population in Kenya is estimated to be 100,000, according to the 2019 census.

Kisumu Nubian Community Secretary-General Ratib Farjala lamented the government’s slow response to historical land injustices, saying it was disheartening that a community that has called Kenya home for decades continues to be denied land ownership rights.

He said it was unfortunate that the Nubian community – which traces its origin to Sudan – has lived peacefully on the same land in Kibos for many years, still has to go all the way to the Supreme Court to secure land rights that are already enshrined in the Constitution.

Farjala said the land in question belongs to the Nubians and appealed to the government through the Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit, to fast-track the process of regularising and formalising ownership by issuing title deeds to rightful occupants.

His sentiments were echoed by former Kisumu Councillor Romanus Odhoch who described the continued landlessness of the Nubian community as a national shame. He said it was painful that in modern Kenya, under a new Constitution that guarantees equality and non-discrimination, a community that has contributed to the country’s growth must still struggle for recognition.

Odhoch said the government must acknowledge the Nubian historical presence in Kisumu and take concrete steps to secure their land rights once and for all. He argued that the law was clear on land ownership. He said any individual or group that occupies land for over 12 years without interruption or dispute has the right to claim it.

Beyond land matters, the Nubian community also demanded greater political inclusion. Farjala proposed that 50 per cent of the 12 elective and nominative seats set aside for ethnic minorities and marginalised communities in both county assemblies and the National Assembly be reserved for Nubians.

He argued that political participation was critical in ensuring that the concerns of marginalised groups are heard and addressed. Without representation, he said, issues affecting minority communities such as land ownership, access to education, and employment would continue to be ignored.

The community also called for fair access to public service jobs, proposing that thirty percent of all government employment opportunities be reserved for ethnic minorities and marginalized communities.

Farjala noted that such affirmative action would help dismantle the structural barriers that have excluded Nubians and other minorities from mainstream employment.

He emphasied the need for proper identification, mapping, and gazettement of minority groups, saying Nubians should be recognized by name and not merely categorized under the general label of marginalised communities.

According to him, the allocation of specific quotas must be anchored in law and gazetted in official policy to ensure enforcement and accountability. He also pointed out that the existing legal aid framework was grossly inadequate and fails to cater to the realities faced by marginalized groups.

Many members of the Nubian community, he said, cannot afford the high costs of court processes, yet they often find themselves in prolonged legal battles over land and identity.  He called for a review of the legal aid system and the strengthening of institutions such as the National Land Commission to make justice more accessible.

Farjala further warned that if these gaps are not addressed, historical land injustice cases will continue piling up even after the five-year limitation period set by law expires, forcing victims to pursue expensive and time-consuming court processes.

He urged the government to adopt proactive measures that would ensure communities like the Nubians are not left behind in the country’s development and governance structures.

The forum, which is part of the government’s effort to gather public input on the National Policy and Bill on Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities, 2025, brought together various groups seeking constitutional and policy recognition.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chris Mahandara