The Public Petitions Committee, led by Vice Chairperson and Turbo MP Janet Sitienei, convened to deliberate on Petition No. 1 of 2025, seeking the official recognition of the Pare people as a tribe within the Republic of Kenya.
The petition, brought forward by Taveta MP John Bwire, highlights the historical injustices faced by the Pare community, asserting that their presence in the country predates the colonial era.
“The Pare people are not recognised as a Kenyan community and instead are wrongfully adjudged to be Tanzanians, rendering them stateless,” stated Bwire in the petition.
The community, which has had a long-standing presence in the Country, is seeking formal recognition as a Kenyan tribe, similar to the recognition accorded to the Shona, Pemba and Makonde communities
Bwire’s petition details the migration of the “Wapare” to Kenya from the Pare Mountains in North-Eastern Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region during the precolonial 1800s.
“They have been an integral part of the communities living in Taveta constituency since time immemorial and constitute the larger population in Jipe, Mata, Marodo, Ngutini, Kitoghoto, Eldoro, Kitobo, and Madarasani villages of Taveta constituency,” the petition reads.
The migration, according to the petition, was largely driven by trade and social interactions with the Taveta people, particularly in iron-smelting, salt trade, and agriculture.
“The Pare people have been part of the social fabric of Taveta Constituency since time immemorial, contributing significantly to the local and national economies,” Bwire further stated.
In his prayers to the committee, the petitioner urged the formal recognition and gazettement of the Pare community to ensure their complete integration into Kenya’s legal framework.
The community further calls on all individuals, institutions, and authorities within the Republic to acknowledge and respect the Pare as a vital part of the nation’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
“The recognition of the Pare community needs to be consistent with our national values of inclusivity, equality, and diversity, which are vital for our nation’s unity,” Bwire emphasised.
If the petition is successful, it would grant the Pare community full legal recognition as Kenyan citizens, ensuring their access to the same rights and opportunities as other Kenyans The Committee is now expected to begin consideration of the petitioners pleas by inviting stakeholders to give submissions on the matter and thereafter prepare a report that will be debated on the floor of the House.
