Kenya Ethnic and Race
Relations Policy
Mzalendo N. Kibunjia PhD EBS
Chairman
National Cohesion and
Integration Commission
Introduction
• The object and purpose for which the Commission is
established is to facilitate and promote equality of
opportunity, good relations, harmony and peaceful
coexistence between persons of the different ethnic and
racial communities of Kenya, and to advise the
Government on all aspects thereof.
•In line with mandate, the Commission held 10 regional
diversity conversations on ethnicity and race over the past
6 months in an effort to open up spaces for intercommunity dialogue to enable the identifying of
opportunities through which ethnic, racial and religious
tolerance could be enhanced and entrenched in a
sustainable manner.
•Forums were held in Nairobi, Kakamega, Kisumu,
Njoro, Nyeri, Isiolo, Mombasa, Machakos, Lodwar and
Garissa. The forums brought together key
stakeholders from each of the regions.
•Dialogues were designed to generate knowledge that
would inform and influence research based advocacy
on ethnicity and generate ideas that would inform an
Ethnic and Race Relations Policy.
•Prior to this document, Kenya did not have an Ethnic
and Race relations policy.
Vision of the policy
A society which is socially cohesive,
politically stable, and economically
prosperous in which ethnic, racial and
religious diversity are understood,
valued, respected and supported
Mission of the Policy
To provide guidelines for ethnic and racial inclusion,
the development of a national Kenyan identity, and
to ensure equal protection, equality of opportunity,
fair distribution of resources, equal access to
services through legislation, participation, capacity
development, civic engagement and dialogue among
all ethnic groups and races towards a shared future
for all Kenyans
Sources of the Policy
• The policy is based on:
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the Constitution of Kenya
National Cohesion and Integration Act
Kenya Vision 2030
Statutory Law
International Law as required by Article 2 of
the Constitution of Kenya
Implementation of the Policy
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The policy requires that the national Government, the county governments,
the private sector, civil society, communities, and individuals adhere to the
constitutional demands for ethnic and racial inclusion. Will also require that
county governments and various public and private institutions and
companies develop their own ethnic and race relations policies that are
specific to each entity but based on this policy.
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Proper implementation of this policy will assist Kenya in entrenching its new
Constitution, proactively mitigating conflict, building peace and ensuring
cohesion.
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The monitoring and evaluation functions of NCIC will include assessing the
extents of proper implementation of this policy as called for by various policy
statements in this document.
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Consists of sixty eight policy statements that provide strategic guidance for
achieving the policy vision of positive ethnic and race relations that will
enable Kenya to become more socially cohesive, politically stable, and
economically prosperous.
•Processes which have led to communities being increasingly
fractured and polarised are complex. Reversing them will require
courage in tackling the difficult and controversial issues of social
identity and values on which cohesion and integration depend.
•NCIC cannot impose community cohesion, instead we work to enable
and support community initiatives for improved national cohesion
and integration and this was what informed the regional diversity
conversations and hence the Ethnic and Race Relations Policy.
•The policy then can only succeed in making a difference in ethnic
and racial relations if Kenyans are fully engaged and take the
responsibility of civil renewal.
•We will give Kenyans through this conference a chance to validate the
policy and give us feedback which will inform the policy.