Acquisition of nationality through naturalization Resolving the statelessness of the Makonde through registration MOBILE REGISTRATION DRIVES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2016 The legal provisions of the 2011 Act paved the way for the task force’s recommendations to be implemented through a registration program for the Makonde. The registration was officially launched by the Cabinet Secretary in October 2016. Based on a one-stop-shop approach, the mobile registration exercise was set up with different ‘stations’. UNHCR and the civil society organizations (KHRC and Haki Centre) were on the ground to monitor the process. Civil society organizations also supported the acquisition of venues and other relevant logistical aspects for the registration teams and the Makonde people. Outcomes At the end of 2019, 1,496 Makonde had been registered as citizens of Kenya, finally resolving their statelessness. Of these, 1,176 Makonde were issued with certificates of registration and Kenyan ID cards. A total of 1,731 Makonde born in Kenya were issued with birth certificates including children and adults paving the way for them to subsequently receive Kenyan ID cards. Addressing Remaining Issues of Statelessness in Kenya The citizenship provisions of the 2010 Constitution and the 2011 Act constitute the basis for the Government to identify other stateless groups in Kenya, such as the Shona, the Pemba, and people of Rwanda, Burundian, Congolese, Malawian and Indian descent, and to resolve their lack of citizenship status. At the High-Level Segment on Statelessness held in October 2019 in Geneva, the Government of Kenya committed to recognize and register as Kenyan citizens the members of the Shona community who qualify for citizenship under the law by 2020. Other advocacy activities included a prayer pilgrimage conducted in October 2020 74 U N H C R > G P P A C T I O N 1 : R E S O LV I N G E X I S T I N G M A J O R S I T U AT I O N S O F S TAT E L E S S N E S S