Arusha, Tanzania – Eight years after a landmark ruling affirmed their rights to ancestral land in Kenya’s Mau Forest, the Ogiek community is still waiting for justice. And now, during a formal hearing in Arusha, they’re demanding action not words.
The hearing, convened by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is reviewing whether the Government of Kenya has complied with its 2017 judgment. So far, the Ogiek say, the government has fallen short.
“We need more than promises,” said a community spokesperson. “The Government of Kenya must show political will by submitting a clear timeline and taking visible steps.”
A Victory Yet to Materialize
In May 2017, the African Court ruled that the Kenyan government had violated the Ogiek’s rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It found that evictions and denial of access to land had harmed the community’s way of life, culture, and dignity.
The Court ordered restitution, compensation, and legal recognition of the Ogiek’s territorial claims. It also called for legislative reforms to better protect indigenous rights in Kenya.
But nearly a decade later, implementation has been slow and inconsistent. Community leaders say the delay is not just a bureaucratic failure it’s a denial of justice.
“We are being kept in limbo,” said another Ogiek representative present in Arusha. “Our lives, our forests, our culture they can’t wait another eight years.”
Government Yet to Show Its Hand
Kenyan government officials are expected to make formal submissions during the current hearing, but have so far not detailed what progress, if any, has been made.
The case was originally filed in 2012 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Since then, it has become a rallying point for indigenous land rights movements across the continent.
The Court’s latest session is part of its monitoring mechanism, which tracks how states implement its decisions. Legal experts and civil society groups are closely watching Kenya’s response.
A Global Call for Support
The Ogiek are now appealing to the international community for solidarity both moral and material.
“We urge organisations and individuals around the world to stand with us,” said a statement from the community. “Justice must be seen and felt, not endlessly deferred.”
Environmental and human rights groups have echoed the call, urging the Kenyan government to honour its commitments and respect the Court’s ruling.
For the Ogiek, it’s about more than legal recognition. It’s about survival of their land, their culture, and their right to belong.
