Brief Report on Stakeholder Engagement on Ogiek Land Tenure Rights – Eldama Ravine

On 26th June 2025, the Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) convened a stakeholder engagement on Land Tenure Rights in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, bringing together Ogiek community members and key partners. Representatives from Hunter Gatherer Forum Kenya (HUGAFO-K) participated in the forum alongside government officials, legal experts, civil society organizations, women and youth leaders, with the shared objective of advancing indigenous land rights for the Ogiek community.

The engagement provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the historical and contemporary context of the Ogiek land struggle, highlighting persistent challenges related to tenure insecurity, exclusion, and weak implementation of existing legal frameworks. Participants received important briefings on the African Court of Justice (ACJ) Ruling, with a focus on its implications for land restitution, collective ownership, and state obligations toward the Ogiek people.

Key contributions were made by the Baringo County Government, CLAN Network Kenya, Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP), Indigenous Women and Girls Initiative, and the wider HUGAFO Network. These perspectives underscored the importance of coordinated, multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening land governance and ensuring rights-based approaches to land justice.

A central highlight of the meeting was the interactive session that enabled participants to collectively develop a joint advocacy strategy. Discussions emphasized the effective use of the Community Land Act, 2016 as a pathway for community land titling, practical steps toward the implementation of the ACJ Ruling, and the need to meaningfully amplify the voices and leadership of Ogiek women and youth in land governance processes.

The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to sustained collaboration, community-driven advocacy, and inclusive participation as key pillars for securing Ogiek land tenure rights and promoting long-term social and economic justice.