Members of Ogiek Community who were evicted from Sasimwani in Mau Forest of Narok County have called on government to expedite process of resettlement.
Addressing Journalists at Olokirikirai, in Narok County, the affected families say they have nowhere to go.
Majority are living in dilapidated structures since the last year’s eviction.
Even as the world marked Indigenous peoples’ Day, the lot say there nothing to smile about.
Led by Wilson Memusi, the affected members of Ogiek Community are now calling on government to ensure their resettlement.
According to Memusi, many members of the Ogiek Community who were affected are living in deplorable conditions as they have no permanent shelter since the eviction.
The angered Memusi wondered why the government seems to ignore the plight of the indigenous peoples whom the Arusha Landmark Court ruling recognized as key conservators.
“Why is the government ignoring us despite the Landmark Court ruling in Arusha? A time is now for action,” he stated.
Memusi added that the Ogiek Community are the original members who should occupy the ancestral land in Mau.
He added that the move by government to evict them from Sasimwani and other areas of Mau is unconstitutional.
“Sasimwani is our ancestral land. We are wondering why the government evicted us yet we were the great conservators of Mau Forest,” he stated.
Sentiments echoed by Veronica Nziloh from Sasimwani.
She noted that their children have continued to suffer in the cold since the eviction.
While noting that Ogiek Community has right as any other Kenyans, she called on elected leaders among them Governor Narok County, President William Ruto to consider the rights of Ogiek.
On his part Stephen Kotioko from Sasimwani area, he pointed out that Kenya Forest Service has continued to contravine the rights of Ogiek Community.
“Why is KFS messing up the Ogiek Community. We are living in fear since eviction. At the moment the Forest is being messed up, our culture being finished,” he said.
He added that the Ogiek Community should be respected.
According to him, the current CS Environment Aden Duale should visit and have a dialogue with Ogiek Community on matters forest conservation.
He pointed out that as it stands, the Forest is being invaded by people who have no interest in matters environment conservation.
“Let CS Duale visit and understand what is going on in Mau. We were evicted but then we have people who are allowed to mess up the forest. This should come to an end,” he said.
Fred Nasisina- a Human Rights Defender from Narok on his part faulting Government for failing to adhere to Ogiek Community’s rights.
He pointed out that time is now for Government to ensure that the Arusha Landmark Court ruling is implemented.
This, he says will help address the issues and challenges facing the Ogiek Community.
“Let the Government address our challenges. We just need resettlement,” he stated.
On his part Fr. Gilbert Sepayian from Olokirikirai Catholic church Parish noted that the evicted members of Ogiek Community from Sasimwani have continued to suffer.
He noted that the Church has played role in assisting them.
He was however quick to note that there is need for Government to step in and ensure they are resettled.
“As a church we have played our role, but time is now for the government to step up and ensure all is addressed,” stated the Priest.
At the same time, the Priest called on other well wishers to step in and ensure members office the Ogiek Community are assisted.
According to him, it is the responsibility of all leaders and anyone of goodwill to step in and address the plight of the Ogiek Community.
“We all have a responsibility towards addressing the responsibility of the Ogiek Community,” he stated.
During the event, Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program-OPDP donated food and non food items to over 3000 members of Ogiek Community who were evicted from Sasimwani ancestral land.
