President William Ruto announced the establishment of a Sh500 billion National Minority Scholarship Programme aimed at supporting children from marginalized communities. This initiative was unveiled during his address to 5,000 leaders from ethnic minorities and indigenous groups at State House, Nairobi, marking International Minorities Rights Day.

• The scholarship program, to be executed in partnership with private sector players and development partners, aims to eliminate poverty as an educational barrier.
• The government will also establish a Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate within the President's office to coordinate these policy changes.
• Additionally, Kenya Shillings 200 million will be set aside annually for an Education Infrastructure Fund to bolster facilities in minority and marginalized areas.

President William Ruto announced the Cabinet has approved the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous, and Marginalised Communities, a new blueprint aimed at reforming public service hiring. This policy will mandate the inclusion and representation of marginalised communities across all government institutions and ensure affirmative action in public service and procurement.

• The policy will be forwarded to Parliament for consideration and adoption, leading to a sessional paper.
• Specific initiatives include allocating Ksh200 million annually for schools in minority areas and establishing nomadic mobile schools.
• The Minorities and Marginalised Affairs Unit within the Executive Office of the President will be elevated to a semi-autonomous agency, and a new Minorities and Marginalised Communities Directorate will be established.

President William Ruto has directed the urgent enrollment of thousands of families from Kenya's minority and marginalized communities into existing cash transfer programs. This initiative, announced on Thursday, December 18, 2025, during International Minorities Day celebrations at State House, Nairobi, aims to strengthen household resilience and dignity for these communities.

• The directive targets groups such as the Ogiek, Sengwer, Yaaku, and coastal communities like the Arabs and Pemba, as well as pastoralists including the Somalis, Maasai, and Samburu.
• A Ksh 500 million National Minority Scholarship Programme will be established to support education for children from these communities.
• The government will cover Social Health Authority contributions for 200,000 vulnerable individuals and allocate Ksh 200 million annually for an Education Infrastructure Fund in marginalized areas.
• The Minority and Marginalized Affairs Unit within the Office of the President has been elevated to a semi-autonomous agency to coordinate these interventions.