CAJ wades into Ogiek community eviction from forests

Molo

Friday, August 4, 2023

by Emily Kadzo

The Commission on Administration of Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has today promised the Ogiek community residing at the Mau forest extension that it would ensure relevant government agencies comply with the African Court of Human Rights judgement.

The Court had ruled that Ogiek Community should be compensated for their eviction from the forests and that they be resettled back to the forests.

CAJ promised to intervene after receiving numerous complaints from the Ogiek Community Welfare representatives that the government was yet to fulfil the judgement.

The CAJ chair Florence Kajuju said that due to this, they were out on a three day fact finding mission to get the way forward on how fast the government could fast track the process. 

"We have heard the members on the alleged violation of their rights by the State and the inordinate delays in the implementation of the judgement of the African Court,” said Kajuju. 

Kenya National Human Rights Commission CEO Dr. Bernard Mogesa observed that Ogiek were among the indigenous communities in Kenya who face a myriad of challenges including lack of land tenure rights to their ancestral land. 

He noted that it was key for the government to adhere to the judgement by the African Court and allow them enjoy life in their land that they have enjoyed since time in memorial. 

"Indigenous people are so connected to their lands that enables them enjoy their land rights to cultivate and religion as well thus the need to have the judgement implemented," observed Mogesa.

On their part, the locals, led by the Ogiek People’s Development Program Executive Director Daniel Kobei, thanked the Commission for the effort towards implementation of the judgement and urged them to not relent on this matter until their rights are recognized by the State. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A