Yaaku Community of Mukogodo forest

The Yaaku are a Cushitic tribe that traces its origin from Ethiopia and dwells in Mukogodo Forest of Laikipia County. They have a population of about 7,000 people.

Originally, they were cave dwellers inside the Mukongodo forest. In fact, the name Mukongodo means "people who live in the rocks". The Yaaku have four distinct tribes and those are Orondi, Lossos, Luno and Sialo clans. Out of these, 13 sub-clans have emerged. From the Orondi four family lineages: Pandero, Lusopuko, Matunge and Leitiko. From Sialo, the lineages are: Parmashu, Saiou, Mole and Nantin. From Luno are Lkia and Lien-Nkileleny; and from Lossos are Lentura, Nanpei and Lol Kinyaryi.

Historically, their main economic activity is hunting of bush meat, gathering wild fruits and nuts as well as honey collection. Honey was stored in large containers that could accommodate about 70kgs of honey called Itaam in Yaaku. Then hunting expeditions did not hunt down birds and neither did they hunt mating or delivering animals out of a deep respect for life. Some of the animals which they hunted include rock hyrax, antelope, buffalo and elephant.

Those who owned bee-hives were considered rich. Anyone who had less than 10 bee hives was considered poor, up to 30 hives relatively rich and over 30 hives were considered to be very rich. Milk and fried fruits are unknown to the Yaaku people. Young ones were fed with bee larvae mixed with sita. The mixture is called Rhimo.

Yaaku believe in a god called Yecherr. Inter-family marriages were prohibited and one could only marry outside the lineage. Domestic violence was unheard of in the Yaaku culture. Divorce was only allowed when the man could not provide for his family. However, a good number of Yaaku men married 3 or 4 sub wives. Two bee hives would be given to the girl's father, one would be given to the girl's mother and the other to the girl's brothers. Domestic violence was unheard of in the Yaaku culture. Divorce was only allowed when the man could not provide for his family. However, a good number of Yaaku men married 3 or 4 sub wives in the tribe.

The community speak the Yiakunte Language which has been marked in the UNESCO red book of endangered languages as language under endangerment or threat of extinction. The Yaaku have lived in harmony with the Forest time immemorial since their traditional practices do not encourage logging and the building of permanent structures within the forest. They have sacred sites and ancestral graves within the forest. Traditional medicines for different kinds of ailments sourced for the forest were used Yaaku people.

Elders are determined by age groups and the leaders of the age groups lead the community. Leaders of the age groups are known as Laigwatani. Their council of elders constitutes of the oldest age group. The members of the young generation follow decisions made by the council of elders.

The Yaaku people originally practiced Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) but over-time the practice has worn down.