POLICY BRIEF > The Journey of Shona in Kenya / October 2024 Life before and after citizenship Access to services Since 2020, the Shona community has made significant strides in the enjoyment of rights and access to essential services and social, economic, and financial opportunities. The acquisition of citizenship has enabled the community to access critical documentation, with 86 percent of individuals now holding a national ID, citizenship, or birth certificate. This remarkable progress has facilitated their inclusion in various social and economic opportunities. Access to financial services has also improved significantly. The proportion of community members with bank accounts increased from 9 percent in 2019 to 35 percent in 2024, while mobile wallet usage saw a surge from 52 percent to an impressive 97 percent. This suggests that the community has leveraged citizenship to integrate more fully into the formal financial system, enhancing their economic participation. Health insurance coverage has nearly tripled over the past five years. The percentage of Shona individuals with health insurance rose from 4 percent in 2019 to 11 percent in 2024, compared to 24 percent nationally.[10] Although the current coverage rate remains low, this growth indicates an increasing awareness and ability to access healthcare services, possibly due to better employment prospects and social benefits associated with citizenship. Net primary school enrolment shows a slight decline but is attributed to changes in the education system rather than reduced access. The enrolment rate decreased from 81 percent in 2019 to 75 percent in 2024. However, this is likely due to the adjustment in the age bracket for primary school in Kenya under national education reforms launched in in 2022, which has led to a temporary underestimation of the enrollment rate. Despite this, the Shona community's access to primary education remains strong and stable. Figure 2: Access to essential services, pre- and post-citizenship Source: 2019 Shona socioeconomic survey[8] and the authors’ calculation of 2024 survey data. www.unhcr.org 5