Members of the Ogiek community who were forcefully evicted from Sasimwani in Narok county have decried over what they term as intimidation and harassment from Kenya Forestry Service(KFS) officers.
The community says since KFS invaded their Sasimwani village that border Mau Forest, life has never been same.
The members of the community added that the eviction of 2023 despite a court order has seen a lot of suffering on the side of the community.
According to them, a total of three youth have died since the eviction over wrangles between community and KFS.
They were speaking on March 3, 2025 after retrieving body of 16 year old Francis Ledama who went missing in December 2024 after he was harassed and chased by KFS officers who were on patrol in Sasimwani forest.
Sasimwani Village elder Meikobei Peter said the late Ledama was in company of his friend fetching some wood in the forest on December 17, 2024 when they were ambushed by the KFS officers.
In the process, Ledama is said to have dived into river Essoitit within the forest at a deep end point and since then he went missing.
Members of the community camped at the river in search for the body but in vain as was nowhere to be found.
“We tried to search for his body for three days but in vain. On the third day, the officers told us to keep off the forest,” he stated.
However, on March 2, 2025 some herders found the body afloat the River at the point where he is said to have dived that saw a report made at Okurto Police station.
The body was retrieved by security team inclusive of KFS officers.
The elder added that this is a third incident in which their youth are vanishing in the hands of KFS officers.
It is for this reason that the community is now appealing to elected leaders both national and from Narok county to step in arrest the situation in Sasimwani village.
The community argues that the African court gave them the right to stay in their ancestral land within Mau and therefore Sasimwani village is their home and the government should ensure the same.
“For how long shall we suffer? We are calling on President Ruto, Governor Ole Ntutu, MP and even our Woman Rep Rebecca Tonkei to come to our rescue. Let us be respected,” he stated.
Sentiments echoed by Joel Mboiten who faulted KFS for threatening members of the community.
He called on Government to ensure the rights of Ogiek community in Sasimwani village are respected.
“The officers are to blame for chasing after our son. We demand justice for our son and the family. All the communities in Kenya should be respected,” he said.
It should be noted that the Arusha Africa Court Landmark Ruling recognized Ogiek People’s as indigenous and their ancestral community land rights within Mau complex.
Author: Pristone Mambili
A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.