Granting Shonas citizenship yet another good move

Shona Community members Margaret Ncube and Tibora Ramson Katiba display their Kenyan identity cards on July 28, 2021 [David Gichuru, Standard]

Once again, the government has taken the right step by according members of the Shona community, originally from Zimbabwe, Kenyan citizenship.

The first Shonas arrived in Kenya in the 1950s and their numbers have increased since. Unfortunately, lack of citizenship has impacted negatively on all spheres of their lives. Taking their children to school is a tall order as is finding formal employment and accessing many government services.

The Shonas join the Makondes who were officially accepted into the Kenyan fold in 2016. These communities have suffered for long. What the government should do now is to give them a leg up so that they can catch up economically with the rest of Kenyans.