President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday directed that all eligible Makonde people should be issued with IDs by December.
He ordered responsible government departments to ensure the members of the community are issued with title deeds for their land.
The Makonde people live in Kwale county. They originated from Mozambique and has for decades been without citizenship.
The President spoke at State House, Nairobi, when he hosted a delegation of 300 members of the community, who trekked from Kwale county to seek his audience.
“I seek your apology on behalf of other Kenyans, because Kenya has taken too long to consider you as our brothers and sisters,” Uhuru said.
He assured the delegation that today will be the last day that anyone will say the Makonde are not part of this nation.
President Kenyatta told the delegation the issue had been brought to his attention by Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and the government is working to resolve the matter.
Earlier in the day, Uhuru chaired a Cabinet meeting, which among other issues, adopted a directive to start the process of giving citizenship to the Makonde.
He said he will visit Mombasa in December and by that time he wants the process of their registration completed.
