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Another
ultimatum
(December
27, 2001) The government has given communities residing in Mau
Forest an order to leave before January 15.
Top lawyers' body defends Ogiek
(December
18, 2001) The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has accused a senior
government official of "waging a smear campaign" against lawyers
who represent the Ogiek community.
Trees
of Peace: How Excisions - Will Destroy Our Cultural 'Memory'
(December
17, 2001) It is sad that 10 per
cent our of forests are to be destroyed. When we destroy our
forests, we are in the process also destroying our social and
spiritual heritage.
Ogiek
position on new constitution
(December 14, 2001) Ogiek representatives express hope that Kenya's
new constitution protect the rights of indigenous groups, who
currently lack political power.
Ogiek
case set for February 21
(December 11, 2001) A case in which the Ogiek community has sued
the government over its intention to degazette parts of the expansive
Mau Forest will now be heard on February 21 next year, the Ogiek
Welfare Council confirmed today.
Kenyan
government set to destroy honey-hunting tribe
(December 5, 2001) Despite threats from local authorities, this
week the Ogiek have announced they will take to court the government
officials responsible for trying to develop protected forest areas.
[Survival International]
CAMPAIGN: INDIGINOUS RIGHTS - OGIEK &
GWITCH
(November 23, 2001) When big business or powerful national governments seek to make use of scarce natural resources, it is often indigenous people who have most to loose. Although indigenous lifestyles are often more environmentally sustainable than those of many so-called 'civilised' people, their lack of access to high-tech communication puts them at considerable disadvantage in any propoganda war.
Ogieks
win battle for forest ?
(November 22,
2001) The recent degazettement of
Mau West forest land was a dream come true for a section of the
Ogieks. At least 3,000 Ogieks who
were issued with allotment letters two years ago are set to benefit
from the degazzetment.
Environmentalists plea Kenya to postpone forest
privatisation
(November 19, 2001) afrol News: Citing the risk of
unprecedented negative environmental and human impacts from the
"degazettment" of nearly 170,000 acres of public forests, Kenyan environmentalist groups urged the government to
postpone its plans until thorough environmental impact assessments can be
conducted.
Kenya
'in Grave Danger' over Forest Excisions
(November 5, 2001) KENYA'S
SUPPLY of power, water, timber and timber products is under
serious threat if the government goes ahead with its plan to
excise over 170,000 acres from 14 forests – a tenth of the
entire forest cover in the country.
KENYA GOVERNMENT GIVES AWAY 5% OF ITS FORESTS
(November 2, 2001) Press Release from the Kenya Forests Working Group
Nairobi, Kenya - The Government of Kenya has through the official Kenya
Gazette notice that is dated October 19th excised 170,000 acres of forests inspite of the low forest
cover of less than 3% of Kenya’s total land area and objections raised by environmentalists, the general
public and pending court cases instituted against the excisions.
State
in big rush to clear forests
(November 01, 2001)The Government
is in a big rush to clear huge sections of forest in the Rift Valley
for what it calls resettling of squatters and harvesting of mature
trees.
Government
Forest Plan Riles Native Kenyans
(October
31, 2001) The government of
President Daniel arap Moi announced this week that it will
reclassify the land, despite a court case brought by the Ogiek
community scheduled for a hearing November 21.Professor Wangari
Maathai, an environmentalist working with Kenya's Greenbelt
Movement, called the government agencies involved with the land
deal "greedy and corrupt."
New
battle over Ogiek land
(October 29, 2001) The Kenyan government has announced that it
will go ahead and collect more than 170,000 acres of public forest
for private use, including areas inhabited by the Ogiek.
KFWG:
Details on forest areas degazetted on 19.10.01 ( Open
as fullsite ! )
Renewed
threat on Ogiek officials
(October 16, 2001) The Ogiek Welfare Council expressed fear that
their lives are in danger after they refused to withdraw the pending
cases and that they could be "eliminated."
KENYA: Forests Battle Lost, But War Goes
On
(October 11, 2001) When he learnt that an Eldoret court had last week dismissed an attempt to block the Government from delisting 167,000 hectares of the remaining forests, a colleague asked why lawyer Nixon Wafula had taken it upon himself to challenge the Government.
Court
to examine Ogiek petition on November 21
(October 8, 2001) After the hearing of the much-awaited Ogiek
land case in Nairobi flopped last week, a Kenyan court will officially
peruse the Ogiek petition and may set a hearing date on November
21.
Carve
up the forest, court rules
(October 5, 2001) A Kenyan High Court has approved the carving
up of 167,000 acres of forestland, a decision that could see the
ultimate loss of the Ogiek cultural land.
Kenyan
government summons Ogiek elders to drop case
(October 3, 2001) A day before the Ogiek were to appear in a Kenyan
court, the provincial commissioner of the Rift Valley province,
Peter Raburu, summoned elders from the community and demanded
that they withdraw the case.
The
Heritage Factor in the Constitution
By Sultan H. Somjee, Ethnographer and Consultant,Constitution
of Kenya Review Commission - 12-09-2001 - Background - After almost
forty years of independence to talk about promotion of African, or
for that matter Kenyan Culture, is a cliché. A cliche that the
nationalist discourse used over and over again to gain popularity
and power that created a class of politicians who became ultimately
masters of the double discourse of theory and practice of African
culture.
Local communities should also benefit from
wildlife
(September 8, 2001) John Mbaria's article titled "Just who owns wildlife in Kenya?" raised some pertinent issues. He argued that wildlife conservation had offered very little to ordinary people. They were daily exposed to danger from wild animals. He also mentioned that to reintroduce hunting would affect little the neglect of the communities around the
parks.
East
Africa: Forest peoples seek compensation
(September 7, 2001) Forest
dwellers from seven African countries this week appealed for
compensation for livelihoods compromised by government activities,
and for vindication of their human rights, AFP news agency
reported.
Wangari Mathai fights for Kenya's
Forests
(Broadcast on Saturday 25/08/01) Summary: In Kenya, where over 30-million people are struggling to cope with drought and
poverty, the country?s miniscule forest cover is being rapidly
depleted. A fierce campaign to save it is being waged by
Africa`s environmentalists, especially the long-running Green Belt Movement in Kenya.
Kenyan
Environmentalist Wants Lenders to Insist on Conservation
(August 13, 2001) -ENS- Already
under close donor scrutiny, the government of Kenya may have more
trouble ahead if lenders adopt an environmental group's proposal
that commitments to conservation be part of the conditions for any
loan.
Don't
say Majimbo, say Federalism
(August 11, 2001) A
strange thing about political statements is that they are rarely
meant to be taken literally. They are usually a form of shorthand,
with a much deeper meaning.
Ogiek
given a month to quit forest
(August 1, 2001) In
the latest move in the saga of the the Ogiek honey-hunters (see
Kenyan honey-hunters' land to be carved up?) the Kenya government
has given all the occupants of the Rift valley forests in Kenya
one month to get out.
In
Defence of a Minority Tribe Fighting for Survival
A book review, African Church Information Service, 3 July 2001-
Nairobi - Title: The Ogiek - The on-Going Destruction of a Minority
Tribe in Kenya; Author: John Kamau - Publisher: Rights News and
Features Service (Publishing Division), 2001 - Volume: 74 pp
Ogiek
case to begin October 4
(July 30, 2001) The case in which the Ogiek community in Kenya
has taken the government to court over the fate of their Mau Forest
land will begin on October 4.
Ban
could lead to illegal logging
(July 26, 2001) Malindi timber
and furniture dealers may be forced out of business by a shortage
of timber. Some dealers are planning to import it from abroad and
Central Africa while others are resorting to illegal harvesting of
old mango and neem (mwarubaine) trees.
Ogiek
given one month to leave forest
(July 9, 2001) All communities residing in state forests in the
Rift Valley province in Kenya — among them the Ogiek indigenous
community — have been given one month to vacate the forestland
or face eviction.
Plea
over electoral borders
(June 28, 2001) The Electoral
Commission has been asked to review electoral boundaries in Nakuru
to achieve fair representation. Sparsely
populated wards should be merged and densely populated ones
divided to ensure effective representation, the commission was
told.
Ogiek
case to be mentioned in court on July 3
(June 22, 2001) The case in which the Ogiek tribe of Kenya wants
the government stopped from degazetting part of their Mau Forest
land will be mentioned on July 3.
Forest
of controversy grows in Kenya
(May 23, 2001) A plan to allow
settlement in protected woodlands draws allegations of political
corruption. In its annual edition
chronicling corruption, the popular Kenyan daily "The
Standard" accuses the government this year of the usual
misdeeds - from nepotism to blackmail to theft.
Government
official says land will not be excised
(May
23, 2001) The Kenyan government has announced that it will not
excise any forestland until all the cases filed in court are heard
and determined.
Seek
new hearing date, Ogiek lawyer told
(May
18, 2001) The case of the Ogiek failed to take off in a Nairobi
court once again yesterday and was only mentioned.
Ogiek
case postponed, ruling party youths stone environmentalists
(May 2, 2001) The scheduled April 30 case for the Ogiek community
failed to start at the Kenyan High Court after lawyers sought
more time.
Huge
support for forest motion
(April 26, 2001) The Kenyan parliament unanimously passed a motion
urging the government to prepare "within six months" a master
plan on forest rehabilitation, protection of rivers, and
vegetation.
Forest
debate in Kenya parliament
(April 19, 2001) A motion has been filed in Kenya's parliament
urging the government to prepare "within six months" a master
plan on forest rehabilitation, protection of rivers, and
vegetation.
Ogiek
get court date
(April 9, 2001) The case in which the Ogiek Community wants the
High Court to stop the intended excision of the East Mau forest
land will be heard in Nairobi on April 30.
Who
favours and who destroys forest biodiversity?
WRM - BULLETIN 44 - MARCH 2001 - Governments
should be directly responsible for the conservation of the natural
and cultural heritage of their respective countries and people.
Nevertheless, what frequently happens in the South is that the
authorities act in collusion with powerful internal and external
interests, and to the detriment of the country's biodiversity, and
thus against the welfare of the population they are supposed to
protect. This is what is going on in Kenya.
The Kenyan regime's destructive
policies
(March 29, 2001) Clearing the deck, and the forest - "IN
AFRICA we gonna get it on, cause we don't get along," said
Muhammad Ali, off to a rumble in the jungle with George Foreman
back in 1974. Daniel arap Moi and Richard Leakey have been boxing
for years. But the president won the latest round this week when
he sacked his old adversary from his post as head of the civil
service, together with most of his team. Mr Leakey's brief for the
past 20 months has been to streamline the service and restructure
the economy.
Ogiek
form national committee
(March 22, 2001) In a bid to seek a united front, the Ogiek in
Kenya have formed a seven member Ogiek National Steering Committee
that will be in charge of all Ogiek affairs.
WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
Opposition Grows to Kenya's Forest Plan (March
20, 2001)
Kenya plans to clear more than ten percent of its forests, some
67,000 hectares, to settle landless squatters. Many of the forests to be stripped
of their protected status are critical water catchment forests,
and others are home to indigenous peoples such as the Ogiek that
oppose the move.
Ogiek
win first round
(March 19, 2001) The Ogiek community registered their first victory
after the High Court in Nairobi on March 16 stopped Minister for
Environment Francis Nyenze from removing their Eastern Mau Forest
from environmental protection.
ALERT:
AGAIN FOREST DEFENDER ARRESTED IN KENYA !
Chairman of Sagana Wildlife Protection Self Help Group, Mr Gerald
Ngatia, arrested ! PLEASE
LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AND DEMAND IMMEDIATE RELEASE ! Several High Court Rulings stopped
forest excision - but state executive ignores order ! To
protect 30.000 acres of their ancestral Eastern Mau Forest members
of the Ogiek community were granted leave to apply for orders of
judical writ of command to squash the Minister's Gazette Notice.
The attempt to excise Eastern Mau Forests was seen by the judge in
particular as a blatant violation of a High Court order already in
force.
Forest
carve-up unites Kenya
(March 17, 2001) Environmentalists have won a stay of execution
against Nairobi's plan to give away 10% of its remaining forests.
Confusion
as Kenyan High Court stops forest excision
(March 15, 2001) A Kenyan High Court today stopped the intended
excision of Kenya forests but Minister for Environment Francis
Nyenze announced that the excision would go ahead as planned.
Still
adamant as D-Day draws near for Kenyan forests
(March 13, 2001) Kenyan Environment Minister Francis Nyenze says
that the organizations involved in the campaign to save the country's
forests are "playing with the psychology of Kenyans."
Forest Excision:
Water, Farms,
Power at Risk
(March 12, 2001) BESIDES THE serious environmental
damage that the intended excision of 67,884 hectares of the
remaining forest cover in Kenya will cause, the very notion of
hiving off these forests to squatters shows glaring gap between
environmental policy and practice.
The
Forests of the Earth send out ONE call: Let us BE !!!
(March
9, 2001) It seems that
everywhere the Peoples of the Forests on Earth start realizing
that enough is enough. - The
forwarded message concerning the Dayak people, joins the call of
the Ogiek of Kenya, the tribal voices from the Ama- zonian and of
the central African Forest peoples, like the BaTwa and BaAka
Environmentalist
now free, charges dropped
(March
9, 2001) Amidst pressure from activists, the government has withdrawn
charges of "incitement" and "illegal assembly" that faced leading
African environmental activist Prof. Wangari Maathai.
Environmental
activist charged in court
(March
8, 2001) Kenya's leading environmental activist, Prof. Wangari
Maathai, who was arrested last evening as she collected petitions
to oppose the intended excision of some of Kenya's forests, was
arraigned in court today.
Kenyan
government sets up committee to study petitions
(March 7, 2001) The Kenyan government set up an inter-ministerial
committee to study the petitions opposing the intended destruction
of 167,000 acres of forestland, 70 percent of which is in the
Mau Forest, Lands and Settlement Minister Joseph Nyaga announced.
Kenyan
Parliament set to open amid forest uproar
(March 5, 2001) When Kenya's parliament opens on March 20, the
top of the agenda will be the government's bid to excise 10 per
cent of Kenya's forestland, of which 70 per cent is the Mau Forest,
the Ogiek ancestral land.
Parliament
to debate forest issue
(March 2, 2001) As the Kenya forest saga continues, Democratic
Party of Kenya, the official opposition in parliament, has formally
filed a notice of motion that seeks to compel the government to
protect forests and rivers.
Uproar
as government eats into Kenya's natural forests
(February 28, 2001) The Kenyan government is heading for a major
confrontation with the country's environmentalists, conservationists
and opposition politicians over the environment minister's decision
to excise part of natural forests in the Rift Valley and Central
province ostensibly to settle landless people. [Panafrican News
Agency]
U.N.
protests loss of Kenyan forests
(February 28, 2001) The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
said it was concerned about the risk of increasing deforestation
in Kenya after the government announced its intention to clear
forest land for settlement. [Reuters]
Parliament
summons two ministers
(February 22, 2001) The Kenyan Parliamentary Committee on Environment
(PCE) summoned Minister for Environment Francis Nyenze and his
lands counterpart, Joseph Nyaga, to give a commitment that they
will not excise any Kenyan forest.
Ogiek's
notice of objection to planned degazettement
(February 20, 2001) In this statement, lawyers for the Ogiek argue
that by moving to degazette the Mau Forest, the Kenyan government
is violating a High Court order.
Who
will save our natural heritage ?
(February 17, 2001) - THE announcement
that the Government has decided to excise more than 167,000 acres
of forest land in various parts of the country is extremely
shocking and a cause for grave worry.
Government
degazettes Mau Forest, Ogiek move to court
(February 17, 2001) The Kenyan government has issued a 28-day
notice in its bid to degazette 147,000 acres of Mau Forest, the
home of Ogiek indigenous community.
Ogiek
protest intended excision of Mau Forest
(February 15, 2001) In this statement, the Ogiek Welfare Council
protests the upcoming degazettement of Mau Forest. [Ogiek Welfare
Council]
Minister
appeals to the president
(February 15, 2001) Kenyan cabinet minister William ole Ntimama
has repeated his claim that powerful individuals within the government
want to grab land and appealed to President Moi to intervene.
Ogiek
to go to court
(February
8, 2001) The Ogiek Welfare Council (OWC) protested the continued
presence of surveyors on their land and denounced the continued
settlement of outsiders on their ancestral land.
Maasai
want to see Kenyan president
(February
6, 2001) The Mau Forest saga took a new twist today when some
500 people from Olpusimoru location in Narok District demanded
an immediate audience with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi to
address the issue.
Two
hundred Ogiek evicted from Narok
(February
6, 2001) Six elders detained
in NAROK / KENYA - Two hundred
squatters from the Ogiek community have been forcibly evicted from
Esinoni group ranch in Ololulung'a division of Narok district,
allegedly on orders from the area District Officer.
200
Ogiek kicked out of farm, six elders arrested, says paper
(February 6, 2001) Some 200 members of the Ogiek community living
in Narok District, in southern Kenya, have been evicted from Esinoni
group ranch and six elders arrested, a local daily has reported.
Senior
cabinet minister protests destruction of Mau Forest
(February
5, 2001) A senior cabinet minister protested the continued destruction
of Mau Forest and demanded the revocation of all illegal allocations.
War
declared on us, says Ogiek
(January
26, 2001) The Ogiek Welfare Council today accused the government
of "declaring war" on the Kenyan indigenous group and announced
that there will be a community prayer meeting on February 24,
2001 at Marioshoni, East Mau Forest.
Police
move in, Ogiek youth charged with capital offense
(January 25, 2001) Armed police have moved into the Ogiek ancestral
land to protect surveyors that are busy demarcating it, despite
a court order. Meanwhile, the Ogiek youth arrested last week after
the community seized survey equipment has been charged with a
capital offense.
Demarcating
land violates spirit if not letter of court order
(January 25, 2001) Strictly speaking, the Kenyan government has
not violated a High Court order by beginning to demarcate land
in the East Mau Forest, but they are clearly violating the spirit
of the order. [Digital Freedom Network]
Ogiek
seize survey equipment, youth detained
(January
22, 2001) Despite a denial by the Kenyan government that its surveyors
had not invaded the controversial Ogiek land to demarcate it,
Ogiek youths last week seized survey equipment in the East Mau
forest. The equipment was being used to demarcate East Mau Forest
despite a court order.
Kenyan
opposition party defends Ogiek
(January 18, 2001) The official opposition party in Kenya, Democratic
Party, threw its weight behind the Ogiek yesterday and urged the
government to respect their rights as an indigenous community.
"Insincere"
remark
(January 17, 2001) The
Ogiek Welfare Council today dismissed as "insincere" a government
statement denying that surveyors have invaded controversial Ogiek
land.
Demarcation
and allocation of East Mau Forest has begun
(January 12, 2001) In this statement, the Ogiek Welfare Council
accuses the Kenyan government of violating a High Court order
by allowing surveyors to demarcate and allocate land in East Mau
Forest. [Ogiek Welfare Council]
OGIEK
- Kenya Government In Serious Violation Of Court Order
(January
12, 2001) ALERT - Please
send letters, faxes, phone-calls of protest to your nearest
Kenya-Embassy! Talk to your travel agent - Kenya might become a
no-go zone for concerned and concious travellers.
Ogiek
protest presence of government surveyors in East Mau Forest
(January 12, 2001) In this statement, the Ogiek Welfare Council
demands that the Kenyan government explain why government land
surveyors continue to demarcate land in the East Mau Forest despite
the Ogiek's filing of contempt charges against the government.
[Ogiek Welfare Council, Rights Features Service]
OGIEK
struggle - UPDATE
(January
9, 2001) Though international
campaigns and court injunctions stopped again and again the
governmental eviction orders against the Ogiek, one of the last
traditional people with hunter-gatherer culture in Kenya, and an
appeal to the highest Kenyan Court against what has been termed
the "Green Smokescreen Ruling" was granted, the struggle
of the Ogiek to be just left in peace within their ancestral
forest home, is far from over.
Rights
lawyer criticizes Kenyan president for "commissioning"
forest destruction
(January
8, 2001) Kenyan human rights lawyer Mirugi Kariuki has criticized
President Daniel arap Moi of "commissioning the destruction of
Mau Forest," a local daily reported today.
Coalition
launches online campaign for Kenyan indigenous people
(January
3, 2001) A international coalition of human rights and environmental
organizations announced the launch today of an online campaign
to urge the Kenyan government to protect the Ogiek. [DFN press
release]
Ogiek
cultural festival cancelled again
(January 3, 2001) A much-publicized cultural festival for Kenya's
Ogiek indigenous people failed to take off on New Year's Eve after
police officers intimidated people from attending.
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