Ogiek Community is among the indigenous peoples who have continued to preserved their culture as conservators of Mau Forest complex.
It is in line with this that Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP) staff and members of the community took a day to a hike within Kiptunga Forest.
The team was led by OPDP Director Daniel Kobei who noted that this hike was a way of reconnecting with the forest.
It also served as a way to explore the indigenous trees, learn from nature and strengthen the bond between people and biodiversity.
“Mau called and we answered.
OPDP staff, together with some members of the Ogiek community, took a day to reconnect with the forest, exploring indigenous trees, learning from nature and strengthening the bond between people and biodiversity,” OPDP stated.
According to members of the community, walking through Kiptunga was more than just a hike, it was a journey into the heart of Ogiek Peoples’ heritage.
They added that every footstep was a reminder that conservation is not just science; it’s culture, health, identity and legacy.
The members of the Ogiek Community vowed to continue with their culture of conserving the forest.
It should be noted that Arusha African Court Landmark judgment recognized Ogiek Peoples’ as indigenous who have their ancestral land in the forest.
The court directed that that they be allowed to their ancestral land in the forest and be given one community title as conservators.