Hold on as we fetch this article…
Hold on as we fetch this article…
Home / Article / HUGAFO-K AGM 2026
The 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hunter-Gatherer Forum Kenya (HUGAFO-K) delivered a message that could not be ignored: indigenous hunter-gatherer communities are done waiting.
Across Kenya, these communities are demanding urgent, concrete action on land rights, identity recognition, and justice—not promises, not policies on paper, but real implementation.
Held at a time when global conversations on climate justice, biodiversity conservation, and indigenous rights are gaining momentum, the AGM underscored a stark contradiction: while indigenous voices are increasingly acknowledged internationally, they remain systematically excluded from decision-making spaces at national and local levels.
This was not just a meeting—it was a declaration of unity, resistance, and a renewed push for accountability.
The AGM convened 86 participants, bringing together a powerful coalition of:
More than a governance forum, the AGM functioned as a movement space—where institutional accountability met grassroots activism, and where strategy was shaped by lived realities.
The assembly opened with deeply moving cultural expressions—songs, prayers, and oral traditions—from the Sengwer (Chepkitale) and Yaaku communities.These were not ceremonial performances. They were acts of resistance and identity.Across indigenous communities, culture remains inseparable from land. Songs map territories. Beadwork encodes history. Oral traditions preserve governance systems. To lose land is to lose identity.
Communities represented included:
Ogiek (Mau, Mt. Elgon, Koibatek)
Sengwer
Yaaku
Elmolo
Waayyu
Kasigau
Lmartin
Aweer
Sanye
“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied”A central theme throughout the AGM was the growing frustration over the gap between legal victories and real-world implementation.
Participants highlighted persistent challenges:
The message was unified and urgent:Recognition without implementation is meaningless.
Voices from the Ground
Leaders and partners spoke c, grounding policy discussions in lived experience:
“We are tired of celebrating court rulings that are never implemented. Our people are still being evicted.” Yator, Sengwer Community Leader
“Land is not just where we live—it is who we are. Without land, we disappear.” Daniel Kobei, HUGAFO-K Host Secretariat
“Recognition without implementation is incomplete justice.”Paul Lekapana, Chairperson, HUGAFO-K
“Indigenous knowledge is not backward—it is the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss.”Gitahi Githuku, AJWS African Coordinator
“Alone we can speak, but together we are heard.”AGM Collective Statement
Despite ongoing systemic barriers, the AGM highlighted significant progress:
1. Strengthened Advocacy
HUGAFO-K continues to amplify indigenous voices in national and international platforms, influencing conversations on land rights and climate justice.
2. Land Rights and Environmental Justice
Communities are increasingly asserting their role as custodians of ecosystems, linking land rights to conservation outcomes.
3. Institutional Growth
HUGAFO-K has strengthened its internal governance and network cohesion, positioning itself as a credible national platform.
Strategic Priorities for 2026
The AGM approved a forward-looking agenda focused on both advocacy and sustainability.
The overarching vision is clear:
the future of indigenous advocacy lies in combining tradition with innovation.KES 33 Million Budget: A Commitment to Action.A major milestone of the AGM was the approval of a KES 33 million budget for 2026.The budget to be sourced to prioritizes:
The signing ceremony symbolized more than financial planning—it reflected collective ownership, trust, and a shared vision for the future.Partners Reaffirm Solidarity—But Call for Impact
Development partners present at the AGM;AJWS,DIPLEBRIEF,CLAN,RRI,IWC reiterated their commitment to:
However, a recurring emphasis,echoed in coverage by platforms like Diplobrief and policy-oriented press spaces—was the need to move beyond solidarity statements to measurable local impact.Global attention must translate into community-level change.
From Resistance to Influence,One of the strongest takeaways from the AGM is a shifting narrative:Indigenous hunter-gatherer communities are no longer positioned as vulnerable groups in need of aid.They are leaders, knowledge holders, and architects of sustainable futures.
As global debates intensify around climate change and biodiversity loss, these communities are increasingly recognized not just as stakeholders—but as solution providers.
HUGAFO-K is steadily evolving into a powerful national platform shaping policy, discourse, and action.
Call to Action: The Time Is Now
The AGM concluded with a bold and uncompromising call:
The message was unmistakable:The time for dialogue has passed.The time for action is now.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
July 6, 2026