Pemba Community Forum

The Pemba community in Kenya, to which we proudly belong, was only recently granted citizenship after decades of statelessness and exclusion. Although this recognition marked a historic victory, the struggle for full and meaningful citizenship continues. Many community members remain undocumented, face digital exclusion from national systems such as the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), or experience legal and social barriers linked to past irregular documentation and refugee registration. These challenges demonstrate that legal recognition alone is not enough—real inclusion requires continued advocacy, awareness, and collaboration.

Through my work with PCF as a Finance and Administration Officer, I have witnessed firsthand how the effects of statelessness persist even after recognition. Our organisation is committed to ensuring that every Pemba person can access identification documents, public services, and equal opportunities as Kenyan citizens. We work through documentation support, civic education, advocacy, and partnership with government and civil society actors. However, we also recognize that our experience is part of a wider global struggle faced by many communities across borders.

Joining the Global Alliance would provide an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices with others working to end statelessness and promote inclusive citizenship. We are particularly interested in learning from the experiences of communities and organisations that have successfully navigated ststelessness/post-recognition challenges. At the same time, We hope to contribute the Pemba community’s unique story—one that reflects both the pain of exclusion and the resilience of a people who never stopped fighting for belonging.

We believe that collective action and solidarity are essential to dismantling the root causes of statelessness and ensuring that legal identity leads to genuine inclusion. By joining the Global Alliance, We aim to strengthen PCF’s advocacy capacity, amplify the voices of Pemba people at the international level, and contribute meaningfully to the global mission of ensuring that every person enjoys the right to a nationality and full citizenship rights.