Indigenous Forest Communities Present Petition on Land Rights
For decades, Indigenous forest peoples in Kenya have endured systemic exclusion from their ancestral lands, limited access to public services, and persistent marginalization in national development processes despite constitutional protections and landmark legal victories.
On 2nd April 2026, with support from CLAN! Network, elders representing Indigenous forest communities in Kenya presented a petition to the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Justice, Human Rights & Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Judith Pareno. The petition called for urgent action on the recognition of Indigenous forest communities, protection of their land rights, and the promotion of equitable development.
The petition brought together voices from six Indigenous forest communities Ogiek (Mt. Elgon & Mau), Sengwer, Yiaku, Aweer, and Sanye. It outlines their key concerns, highlights progress made over the years, and identifies outstanding government obligations that remain unfulfilled in securing their rights.
For decades, these communities have faced systemic exclusion from land ownership, access to public services, and fair development opportunities. These challenges have been further exacerbated by legal ambiguities surrounding community land tenure, administrative barriers in recognition processes, and delays in the implementation of court decisions and commission rulings.
In response, PS Pareno acknowledged that the issues raised reflect broader systemic gaps within governance and land administration frameworks. She reaffirmed the State Department’s commitment to pursuing coordinated, transparent, and inclusive interventions aimed at upholding the constitutional rights of Indigenous forest communities.