NAIROBI Kenya Oct 30-The Ogiek Community representatives has raised concerns over the growing gap in recognizing parcels designated as Community land asking the government to follow court orders of not evicting them.
According to the Ogiek Council of Elders, under the leadership of John Lobolo Sironga, Chairman of the National Council of Elders have made a valiant efforts in engaging the government authorities to consider them hence respecting the Orders made by court of Africa.
Martin lele a representative of the Ogiek community Friday, visited the Kenya National Human Right Commission(KNHR) taking their grievances on the Mau Evictions.
They asked the government to respect the court order and stop evicting them without telling them where to go.
However,they have said that they are living in their ancestral land where the government should consider giving them title deeds which is communal so that they own the land.
“What we want is the government to consider us as it respect the orders from the court of Africa we have lived there for more than a century when the independent found our fathers occupying the land” said martin.
“we have the right as other Kenyans not to be evicted,” Martin added.
He further added that they have visited all the offices associated with land where they have taken their grievances to be considered urging those offices to give them communal title deed.
“We ask the government to consider giving us title deeds as the court of Africa stated indicating that we have the right to stay there,” Martin noted.
This comes amist the Cabinet Secretary of environment, climate change Soipan Tuya gave a stern warning to those who have occupied Mau forest giving direction on how the Ogiek Community should vacate.
“Our houses are burnt down by authorities where people are even injured.Where should we go if they disobey court orders yet we got no notice to vacate,” lele stated.
The area Chief, in the centre of these imminent evictions, has taken a strong stance, urging the Ogiek to remove their families and possessions from their homes in preparation for the impending destruction.
These elders are attempting to garner the support and intervention of vital agencies, including the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
In an effort to find a resolution, another Ogiek community group from Sasimwani reached out to various authorities including the Narok County Commissioner, Isaac Masinde, who has cited orders from his superiors as the basis for the impending evictions, urging the Ogiek to approach the President for assistance.
As these evictions continue the Ogiek community have tried to reach out to the Governor Narok County, Hon. Patrick Ole Ntutu to engage in dialogue and find a solution but their efforts have proved futile.
Moreover, the Ogiek express deep concerns about the activities of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry and the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Soipan Tuya, as she tours the Mau Forest Complex. raising anxieties among the Ogiek community in the Mau region who fear they may be the next targets for eviction.
Allegations have surfaced suggesting that funds allocated for the protection of Kenya’s water towers may be a motivating factor behind the displacement of communities in the Maasai Mau Forest.
The Ogiek community said that these actions are potentially being undertaken to demonstrate commitment to conservation, even if it means infringing upon human rights.
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