The Ogiek Community learnt of the intention by the Government of Kenya to carry out an eviction of its members living in Mau Forest, particularly in Nkareta and Sasimwani areas. The demolition of houses and evictions kicked off on the 2nd of November 2023. About 700 members of Ogiek will be rendered homeless and left to live in the cold and rainy season we are experiencing in November.

The Ogiek community is an indigenous and a minority forest dweller whose ancestry is in Mau. The Ogiek have no other home. They do not have anywhere to go. No alternative has been provided and hence the eviction will just lead to a repeat of injustices and harming the community.
The government of Kenya through the Cabinet secretary for Environment, the Regional Commissioner for Rift Valley has ordered all people in the Mau Forest to vacate allowing for fencing off the forest. Security agencies are spotted close to the Ogiek homesteads preparing to invade and evict the community. Authorities have asked community members to take away children and their valuables from their houses before the eviction exercise takes place.
If evictions takes place there is going to be massive violations of the Ogiek social, cultural and religious rights. School going children will suffer and denied a chance to even sit for their national examinations. A community will be homeless. Men and Women will suffer the agony of livelihood survival and it will be an easy way to finish the community. Evicting them would not only violate their human rights, but also endanger the forest and the climate.
These evictions are bound to happen when the community is anticipating the government to implement the African Court judgment but the opposite is happening. If eviction happens it will be a blatant disregard of the African Court orders and its international obligation a which is party to.
We call on the government to:
1. Stop the evictions of Ogiek and all forest communities that have been living in harmony with nature for generations. These communities are the guardians of the forest, protecting its biodiversity and ecosystem services. They have customary rights to their lands and resources, which are recognized by international law and the Constitution.
2. To respect the rights of forest communities, to halt any eviction plans, and to engage in a meaningful dialogue with them to find a just and sustainable solution.
3. To immediately accept to consultation with the Ogiek, to expedite the implementation of the two judgments rendered by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in favour of the Ogiek Community.
4. Completely suspend the process of eviction until the relevant stakeholders and government entities have fully implemented the two Judgments delivered by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.