Members of the Ogiek and Endorois minority communities from Nakuru, Baringo and Narok Counties have expressed optimism that their Historical Land Injustices submissions to the National Land Commission will be fully addressed.
The submissions range from a diversity of claims to the National Land Commission and according to the minority communities, there is now documented evidence of the injustices that the communities have had to face.
Speaking in Nakuru on Monday during a meeting to chat way forward after submissions, the members of the Ogiek Community led by Chairman Ogiek Council of Elders John Sironga said enough is enough and time is now for the injustices to be addressed once and for all.
“We believe this time round our submissions to the National Land Commission will be addressed” said Sironga.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Sally Kemboi, and Pastor Wilson Memusi.
The duo called on the National Land Commission to consider their submissions as well as the landmark Arusha ruling that granted the minority Ogiek Community the rights to their ancestral land in Mau.
“The court gave us victory and we have also submitted evidence to NLC. We really hope they will consider ensuring we get justice” they stated.
The strides made by the minority Ogiek and Endorois have been made possible through the assistance of the Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP).
Director OPDP Daniel Kobei on his part noted that the ongoing conversation on climate change should be taken seriously as it has a great impact on indigenous peoples.
He called on the government to value the indigenous communities such as the Ogiek who can contribute to the solutions to climate change through conservation of Mau forest which is their ancestral land.
“The issue of climate change is also affecting the indigenous communities such as the Ogiek.Time is now for the government to start involving us in a solution to the same through our way of life which includes conservation of Mau Forest” said Kobei.
On the submissions made to NLC, Kobei said owing to the voluminous documents receiveD by the commission, it will take close to 3 years for the implantation of the same.
He maintained that as indigenous communities, they will wait patiently for the full implementation of what they claimed.
Kobei also called on the government to ensure implementation of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Report.
According to him, implementation of the report will also help solve some of the historical injustices on land in the country.
“I’m sure right now NLC must be going through the submissions. They told us they will come and verify the claims we made. But again, the National Land Commission should implement the historical land injustices” said Kobei.
The deadline for submission of the historical injustices claims to NLC by the minority communities was September 21.
