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Home / Article / HUGAFO-K Reaffirms Commitment to Indigenous Peoples' Rights at the 9th Ogiek African Court Ruling Commemoration
The Hunter Gatherer Forum-Kenya (HUGAFO-K) participated in the 9th Commemoration of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights landmark judgment on the Ogiek community, joining the Ogiek Peoples' Development Program (OPDP), Indigenous leaders, community members, development partners, and human rights defenders in reaffirming the ongoing struggle for justice, recognition, and implementation of Indigenous Peoples' rights.
The annual commemoration marks the historic 2017 African Court judgment, which recognized the Ogiek as the rightful Indigenous custodians of the Mau Forest and affirmed their rights to ancestral land, culture, religion, natural resources, development, and non-discrimination. While the ruling remains a landmark victory for Indigenous Peoples across Africa, participants emphasized that its full implementation remains an urgent priority.
The event brought together approximately 400 participants from Ogiek territories and partner organizations in a day dedicated to remembrance, healing, cultural celebration, and renewed advocacy.
Activities commenced with a symbolic tree-planting exercise, reflecting the profound relationship between the Ogiek people and the Mau Forest. For the Ogiek, trees represent far more than environmental resources—they embody identity, spirituality, culture, history, and survival. Every seedling planted symbolized resilience, hope, environmental stewardship, and the community's unwavering commitment to protecting its ancestral homeland for future generations.
The ceremony was followed by traditional prayers led by respected Ogiek elders, who invoked blessings for unity, peace, healing, and the eventual restoration of the community's ancestral land rights. A deeply moving moment came with the ceremonial handover of a sacred traditional stick to OPDP Executive Director and HUGAFO host secretariat Mr. Daniel Kobei, symbolizing unity, leadership, spiritual authority, and the collective journey toward justice.
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized that the struggle extends beyond legal recognition to the realization of Indigenous Peoples' rights in practice.
Community leaders called for stronger unity among the Ogiek people and increased participation of women, youth, elders, and persons with disabilities in advocacy efforts. They encouraged sustained engagement with government institutions through dialogue, petitions, and strategic partnerships to accelerate the implementation of the African Court's decisions.
As a national platform representing hunter-gatherer communities across Kenya, HUGAFO-K recognizes that secure land tenure and recognition of Indigenous territories are fundamental to protecting biodiversity, sustaining traditional livelihoods, preserving cultural identity, and addressing climate change. The Ogiek case continues to inspire Indigenous communities across Kenya and Africa in advocating for the recognition and protection of their customary lands.
The commemoration featured vibrant cultural performances combining music, dance, storytelling, and traditional expression to communicate messages on Indigenous rights, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.
Artists celebrated Indigenous ecological knowledge while promoting the protection of forests, restoration of Indigenous tree species, and implementation of the African Court ruling. The performances also highlighted the importance of the Ogiek Cultural Centre as a space for preserving language, history, cultural artifacts, and traditional knowledge for future generations.
Delivering the keynote address, OPDP Executive Director Mr. Daniel Kobei reminded participants that the gathering was not a celebration but a commemoration of an unfinished journey toward justice.
He reflected on the significance of the 2017 Merits Judgment, the 2022 Reparations Judgment, and subsequent compliance decisions while urging the Government of Kenya to fulfill its obligations by implementing the Court's rulings. He further encouraged community members to preserve their cultural heritage by safeguarding traditional artifacts, documenting Indigenous knowledge, and strengthening the Ogiek Cultural Centre as a living repository of Ogiek identity.
HUGAFO-K remains steadfast in advancing the collective voice of Kenya's hunter-gatherer communities. The Forum continues to advocate for:
The Forum believes that Indigenous Peoples are not only rights holders but also vital custodians of biodiversity and ecosystems. Their knowledge, governance systems, and stewardship are essential for achieving climate resilience and sustainable conservation.
The commemoration concluded with renewed commitments from community leaders, women, youth, elders, and partner organizations to strengthen advocacy, preserve Indigenous heritage, empower future generations, and continue engaging the Government of Kenya toward the full implementation of the African Court rulings. Participants also reaffirmed the importance of protecting the Mau Forest while recognizing the Ogiek as its traditional custodians.
For HUGAFO-K, participation in this important event reaffirmed that the struggle for Indigenous Peoples' rights is inseparable from the protection of ancestral territories, cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and human dignity. The Forum remains committed to working with its member organizations, including OPDP, and national, regional, and international partners to ensure that Indigenous communities across Kenya continue to speak with one united voice and that justice secured in the courts is translated into lasting change on the ground
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July 6, 2026