A minority community living in three counties of the North Rift region has complained of being discriminated by the government.
The Cherangany community which reside in West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Trans Nzoia counties have called for its recognition by the state.
They want parliament to resolve their woes failure to which they threatened to boycott 2017 polls, besides holding protests.
Chairman Benson Krop led the community in challenging MPs to support it in efforts to be recognised as a minority group through proper legislation.
Krop said the community comprises of about 15,000 people spread across the three counties, according to the 2009 population census.
He observed they could currently be slightly above the number. On Thursday, they lamented that the community was excluded from participating in a forum organized by the World Bank working with the government in March 2015.
"This was despite having made an appeal for consideration," they said, further asking MPs to uphold the constitution by crafting laws that factor national values and principles.
They want the laws aligned to cater for provisions of human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness and non-discrimination; which they said they lacked.
"We petitioned the Principal Secretary in the ministry of Environment and Natural resources through an appeal letter signed by 450 people in October 2014. Follow ups on action taken have been in vain," he pointed out.
Krop lamented that the exclusion from the forum denied them opportunity to present their memorandum, regretting that this led to their omission in the minority list.
He further revealed the community has no representation in both the senate and the national assembly.
The official cited that it was a challenge for them to present an issue affecting then to the legislative houses.
"The community therefore feels it is likely to be marginalised more contrary to the spirit of the constitution hence failing to benefit from affirmative action programs for minorities in the counties," he said.
Krop however hinted that an MP has agreed to present their petition in parliament and observed if debated on it will go a long way in addressing the Land and Natural Resources Bills with reference to minority and marginalized groups.
"In the event that the community is not listed as a minority we will protest and abstain from voting in the forthcoming general polls," asserted Krop.
But Krop pointed out that the Cherangany community bears a census code 603 as registered in the Myoot (Kalenjin) council of elders.
He said that the office of the Attorney General has their particulars.
Among minority groups listed in the country are the Ogiek, Sengwer and Ndorobo.
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