The African court on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that the Ogiek had ancestral land rights to the Mau forest and could rightfully occupy it.
In addition, in a 2022 reparations judgment, the court ordered the Kenyan government to delimit, demarcate and offer the Ogiek titles to the territory they traditionally lived in.
However, since then there seems to be very little from the government side on the implementation of the landmark judgements.
Instead of implementation, the government has continued to carry out systematic evictions leaving members of the Ogiek community in fear and hopeless.
Their cry to have the evictions halted until their land rights are adhered have continued to fall on deaf ears of every government that comes into power.
However, Ogiek Council of elders in the country have vowed not to relent until their issue is addressed.
Addressing journalists in Nakuru town on December 16, 2023, the council members led by Chairman John Sironga wondered why any government would fail to adhere to a court ruling.
“We are surprised that the government has failed ro implement the landmark ruling concerning the Ogiek community land rights. Even the conservative orders barring our eviction from Mau Forest has been ignored,” said Sironga.
He added that the evictions are being carried out in the name of ‘orders from above’.
According to Sironga, representatives of the Ogiek community have been in various government offices including that of County Commissioner but they are only told the orders from above paving questions as to who could be behind the evictions.
This even as Ogiek women continue to face it tough during evictions.
Sarah Osas recounts how women are forced to leave with painful scars of such process.
She points out that even those who had toiled and planted their crops have been barred from harvesting them.
“We planted but we are told we cannot step in that area to harvest. We are left in shock since even President William Ruto has been on record on matters food security. But then hiw can we have food security when we cannot be allowed to attend to our crops,” she said.
According to her lack of any political representation in County Assemblies, and Parliament might be the reason for their plight as a community.
She appealed to President William Ruto to listen to their cry.
“Why is President William Ruto ignoring the cry of Ogiek community yet we voted for him? Let the government stop any evictions until the landmark judgements of the African Court concerning our land rights are implemented,” said Sarah.
Sentiments echoed by Wilson Memusi who is the chairman Ogiek community in Narok county.
Memusi faulted the current Kenya Kwanza government for failing to adhere to court rulings.
“As Ogiek community in all the 6 counties we have no peace simply because government has failed to implement Arusha landmark ruling. What have we done to go through all these,” said Memusi.
It should be noted that Ogiek evictions have recently been carried in Sasimwani and Nkareta areas of the Mau forest after President William Ruto ordered security agencies to remove illegal settlers inorder to protect Mau Forest and help fight climate challenges.
Author: Pristone Mambili
A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.