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02.08.2007
PRESS RELEASE
Ogiek Peoples Development Program (OPDP), Kesenta op Ogiek
The fate of the Ogiek and other minorities on the 50 seats reserved for women
We due respect to women of Kenya, we wish to say that the 50 seats should be shared 25 for women and 25 for minorities or else specials seats be reserved for minorities like the OGIEK, ELMOLO, YIAKU, SENGWER, WAATA, BOONI, and ENDOROIS.
And our recommendations are that the women should elect their own, because women are marginalised in every home and they are more than men.
Women should emulate the elected leaders of Kenya like Laurent Prof. Wangari Maathai, Charity Ngilu, Martha Karua and battle out with for positions and not wait for free vacancies. Otherwise will never elect because they will say there are fifty seats for women.
Ogiek people for instance are a minority in every district and Constituencies. For example in Narok South Constituency- they are minority to the dominant Maasai, Kuresoi Constituency - They are minority to the dominant Kipsigis, Molo constituency - They are minority to the Kikuyu, Mt. Elgon Constituency - they are minority to the Sabaot where have suffered from the genocide of Sabaot Land Defense Force (SLDF).
More often than not the minorities have been marginalised, oppressed and discriminated on many issues which are contrary to the International Convection on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which Kenya is a signatory to. When the government is appointing the directors, head of parastatals, Commissioners, Ambassadors, Provincial administration, the minorities like the Ogiek are lock out despite their qualifications for the positions and their voting patterns.
It is therefore our demand and appeal to President Kibaki regime to reconsider affirmative actions among the minorities like the Ogiek, in the following
areas:
| a) |
Special seats in parliament for minorities |
| b) |
Appointments to Diplomatic Missions |
| c) |
Establishment of Minority Special Fund
(MSF) to promote the development of infrastructure,
education, and health care |
| d) |
The forest Board formed by Hon. Prof. Kivutha Kibwana
(by then acting) be reconstituted to include the minorities like Ogiek who are the forest guardians |
| e) |
Special scholarships to be established for minorities to further
education, so that in future we can have engineers, Doctors, Researchers to do extensive
research. |
| f) |
The Ogiek be given a constituency of their own like their land rights are
respected. |
| g) |
All the Ogiek cases pending in courts are determined without
conditions. |
| h) |
The ongoing killings in Mt. Elgon should be approach politically but not by beaming up security personnel |
We the Undersigned ...
Working for a Just and Equitable society by Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods for Ogiek Community in Kenya
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