The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has supported petitions seeking the formal recognition of the Pare and Chuka communities as distinct tribes in Kenya, saying this would enhance statistical accuracy and support equality in policy decisions.

KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho made the remarks while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity chaired by Janet Sitienei.

The committee is reviewing Petition No. 1 of 2025, which seeks recognition of the Pare people, and Petition No. 9 of 2025, which seeks similar recognition for the Chuka community.

Obudho told the committee that accurate data on ethnic identity is crucial for resource allocation, representation, inclusion, policy making, cultural preservation, social integration, and conflict resolution.

“Over the years, various communities living in Kenya have sought to be recognized as distinct tribes or sub-tribes,” Obudho said.

“This drive is often motivated by the desire to access statistical data, claim rightful entitlements, and promote community interests,” he added.

The committee was told that communities such as the Makonde, Shona, Pemba, and Kenyans of Asian descent have in the past decade gained recognition as ethnic groups through petitions to government.

Obudho said the Pare, who mainly live in Taveta Constituency in Taita Taveta County, were among the 6,272 persons listed as stateless during the 2019 national census.

At the time, other stateless groups included the Shona, Wapemba and Wanyarwanda, who have since been recognised.

The Chuka community, who are found in Tharaka-Nithi County, are currently classified as one of the nine sub-groups of the Meru ethnic group. Other sub-groups include Igoji, Imenti, Tigania, Mitine, Igembe, Mwimbi, Muthambi and Tharaka.

Committee members expressed concern that some communities still lack recognition decades after independence.

The committee’s vice chairperson asked, “Considering Article 16 of the Constitution outlines the conditions for citizenship, why has the Government neglected communities that have lived on this land long before national borders were drawn?”

John Bwire, who represents Taveta, also called for urgent action.

“Recognizing people as stateless is going against the tenets of the Constitution of Kenya, specifically, Article 27 which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination for all Kenyans,” he said.

Obudho explained that while KNBS plays a role in collecting data, the legal mandate to gazette ethnic groups lies with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

He called on Parliament to fast-track the two petitions and work with the Ministry to ensure all communities are recognised before the 2029 census.

“Statistical accuracy is best achieved when data is collected at the most distinct level. Avoiding the generalization of communities will enhance equality and ensure that all Kenyans are accounted for,” Obudho said.