President Uhuru Kenyatta
The Makonde ethnic group, until yesterday, was not an officially recognized ethnic group in Kenya. Despite its existence in the country before independence and the promise by Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta, to officially include them as citizens of the country, it was only yesterday that that promise was fulfilled. Members of the community were issued identity cards, officially making the Makonde community the 43rd ethnic group in Kenya.
The Makonde suffered as a stateless people for over a half-century. Their ancestry can be traced to Mozambique and they have a smaller population in Kenya than in Mozambique or Tanzania.
With the enforcement of identity cards in Kenya, the Makonde have been a target of police harassment. The issuance of the identity cards was due in December and coincides with the ongoing voter’s registration for this year’s election.
With the promise of land and recruitment into the police and military, the Makonde Community Chairperson Thomas Nguli urged President Kenyatta to also tackle unemployment among the youths of the community.
The Makonde are known particularly for their remarkable artistry as woodcarvers and make their living by selling their carvings to tourists.
Found mostly along Kenya’s coast, the Makonde came to Kenya in the 1950s. The Makonde are a matriarchal society and mostly follow traditional religious practices.
Other unrecognized ethnic groups in the country include Pemba, Warundi and Warwanda.
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