Ogiek celebrate 6th anniversary of ACHPR ruling
Hundreds of Ogiek celebrated the 6th anniversary of winning a ground-breaking court case at the African Court for Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) which ruled in favour of the Ogiek, who were acknowledged as Indigenous and won both compensation from the government of Kenya and the right to stay in the Mau Forest.
While acknowledging progress, both the Ogiek community and development partners emphasized the need for expedited implementation of the ACHPR's judgments. They expressed concern that the government's actions thus far have fallen short in fully recognizing and securing the land rights of the Ogiek. The community and its partners appealed to the government to prioritize its obligations and respect the rights of the Ogiek as Indigenous Peoples.
On 23 June 2022, the ACHPR unanimously dismissed all the objections from the Government of Kenya to the 2017 ruling and delivered a pioneering reparation judgment concerning the rights of the Ogiek Peoples to their ancestral land.
Celebrations across counties
Daniel Kobei addressing community members in Mariashoni Nakuru County. Credit: OPDPIn Nakuru County, a gathering of over 600 Ogiek community members took place at Mariashoni Centre, led by Mr. Daniel Kobei, Founder and Executive Director of OPDP (Ogiek Peoples' Development Program), alongside development partners and representatives from the media. The event served as a celebration of culture and unity, emphasizing the ongoing journey towards land rights.
Similarly, in Narok County, 200 community members gathered at the Ogiek Cultural Centre in Nkareta to commemorate the 6th anniversary. The occasion provided an opportunity for cultural festivities and a call for continued solidarity.
In Uasin Gishu County, approximately 250 Ogiek community members convened in Ndungulu area, urging the Kenyan government to promptly implement the decisions of the African Court.
Read more about the 6th anniversary celebrations in this article from OPDP
The Ogiek People is an Indigenous hunter/gatherer people who have for many years suffered from human rights violations and evictions from their ancestral land in the Mau Forest in western Kenya.
Top photo: Ogiek in Narok County celebrating in song. Credit: OPDP
All photos kindly provided by the Ogiek Peoples' Development Programme (OPDP)
Tags: Land rights
