Invisible on Paper, Visible in Data: Exploring the Demography of The Nubian Community in Kenya

What happens when the state does not see you? For countless individuals across the Global South, the lack of legal identity translates into restricted access to healthcare, education, political representation and the fundamental right to be counted. This thesis investigated the demographic implications of legal invisibility through the case of the Nubian community in Kibera: a population historically excluded from full citizenship in Kenya. Drawing on original data collected in 2015 through a mixed-methods survey designed by the Open Society Justice Initiative, this study analyzes responses from a sample of 1314 individuals, combining descriptive statistics with multivariate regression models. Special attention is given to the role of ethnicity, documentation status, education and marital status in shaping fertility preferences, healthcare access and children's registration outcomes. The findings reveal that individuals without official documentation report lower fertility intentions, likely due to reduced stability and access to resources. Furthermore, these individuals also face greater obstacles in seeking healthcare: longer travel times and delays, particularly for the less educated. Notably, Nubian households have higher documentation rates, likely due to the provision of targeted legal aid programs and the sampling characteristics. Child registration outcomes are influenced by factor as parental education, household size and ethnicity, while fertility preferences differ across age and gender dimensions. By tracing how exclusion operates through both visible and invisible channels, this research contributes to the growing literature on identity, inequality and reproductive autonomy. Ultimately, it asserts that inclusive legal documentation is far more than a bureaucratic formality; it serves as a vital instrument to empower demographic autonomy, social mobility and human development.