The President issued the order on Thursday during celebrations to mark International Minorities Day, held at State House in Nairobi.
He instructed the State Department for Social Protection to urgently register eligible households from these communities into existing cash transfer programmes.
According to President Ruto, the move is meant to protect vulnerable families, strengthen their ability to meet daily needs, and restore dignity among groups that have historically been left behind.
“These programmes must reach every eligible family from minority and marginalized communities without delay,” the President said, noting that social protection remains a key pillar of his administration’s development agenda.
The directive targets several communities that have endured years of economic hardship, land displacement, and limited access to public services.
According to President Ruto, the move is meant to protect vulnerable families, strengthen their ability to meet daily needs, and restore dignity among groups that have historically been left behind.
“These programmes must reach every eligible family from minority and marginalized communities without delay,” the President said, noting that social protection remains a key pillar of his administration’s development agenda.
The directive targets several communities that have endured years of economic hardship, land displacement, and limited access to public services.
Among them are hunter-gatherer groups such as the Ogiek, Sengwer, Yaaku, Waata, Sanye, Dorobo, Elmolo, and Malakote.
Many of these communities lost ancestral land through forced evictions and conservation projects, leaving families without stable livelihoods.
Many of these communities lost ancestral land through forced evictions and conservation projects, leaving families without stable livelihoods.
As a result, poverty levels remain high, while access to education, healthcare, and political representation remains limited.
Coastal communities, including Arabs and the Pemba, are also expected to benefit from the programme.
Coastal communities, including Arabs and the Pemba, are also expected to benefit from the programme.
These groups have long faced challenges related to citizenship documentation and statelessness, which has made it difficult for them to access government services.
Pastoralist communities living in arid and semi-arid areas — such as the Maasai, Samburu, and Somali — have also been included.
Pastoralist communities living in arid and semi-arid areas — such as the Maasai, Samburu, and Somali — have also been included.
Recurrent droughts, insecurity, and climate change have severely affected their livelihoods, increasing dependence on government support.
In addition to cash transfers, President Ruto announced the launch of a Ksh500 million National Minority Scholarship Programme. The fund will support children from poor families within marginalized communities to access secondary school and higher education.
The President said education remains the most sustainable way to break cycles of poverty and exclusion, especially for communities that have been historically disadvantaged.
To further strengthen healthcare access, the government will also pay Social Health Authority contributions for 200,000 vulnerable individuals drawn from minority and marginalized groups.
In addition to cash transfers, President Ruto announced the launch of a Ksh500 million National Minority Scholarship Programme. The fund will support children from poor families within marginalized communities to access secondary school and higher education.
The President said education remains the most sustainable way to break cycles of poverty and exclusion, especially for communities that have been historically disadvantaged.
To further strengthen healthcare access, the government will also pay Social Health Authority contributions for 200,000 vulnerable individuals drawn from minority and marginalized groups.
This will allow beneficiaries to receive medical services without facing financial strain.
Education infrastructure has also been prioritized under the new plan. President Ruto directed that Ksh200 million be allocated every year to build and improve schools in marginalized regions, many of which lack basic learning facilities.
During the event, the President revealed that the Minority and Marginalized Affairs Unit within the Office of the President has been elevated into a semi-autonomous agency.
Education infrastructure has also been prioritized under the new plan. President Ruto directed that Ksh200 million be allocated every year to build and improve schools in marginalized regions, many of which lack basic learning facilities.
During the event, the President revealed that the Minority and Marginalized Affairs Unit within the Office of the President has been elevated into a semi-autonomous agency.
The new structure is expected to improve coordination and implementation of government programmes targeting these communities.
He added that the directorate will work closely with all ministries to ensure policies affecting minority groups are fully implemented across government.
To cement the reforms, Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries have been instructed to include minority-focused programmes in their 2026/2027 budget proposals.
President Ruto concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusion, saying development cannot be meaningful if entire communities are left behind.
“This country belongs to all Kenyans, regardless of where they come from or how small their numbers are,” he said.
He added that the directorate will work closely with all ministries to ensure policies affecting minority groups are fully implemented across government.
To cement the reforms, Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries have been instructed to include minority-focused programmes in their 2026/2027 budget proposals.
President Ruto concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusion, saying development cannot be meaningful if entire communities are left behind.
“This country belongs to all Kenyans, regardless of where they come from or how small their numbers are,” he said.
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