The Ogiek: Kenya's castaways
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How do they live? The Ogiek are hunter-gatherers – some in the deep forest live purely by hunting and gathering, while the
majority grow vegetables and keep livestock also. They have traditionally hunted
such animals as antelope and wild pigs, which is now generally illegal. They
gather not only wild plants, but also honey from beehives which they make from
hollow logs and place in the high branches of the forest trees. Trees at
different heights on the mountain slopes flower at different seasons, meaning
that the Ogiek can collect honey all year round. Its taste varies according to
when and where it is gathered. This honey plays a central part in Ogiek society;
it is used for food and for brewing beer, and also to trade with neighbouring
peoples outside the forest.
What problems do they face?
Ever since colonial times there have been attempts to evict the Ogiek from their
ancestral forest, usually on the pretext that they are degrading it. But when
the Ogiek are removed, their forest is not protected but rather exploited by
logging and tea plantations – some owned by government officials. In some parts
of the Mau forest, groups of Ogiek are now resisting eviction, while in others
they face influxes of settlers onto their land. The most serious threat
currently facing them all comes from the government's plan to open up around one
tenth of Kenya's forests – most of it in the Mau forest – to outsiders. This
will open the way for more settlers, loggers and tea
plantations.
How can I help?
Click here to donate to Survival.
Click here to write a letter to your MP or MEP (UK).
Click here to write to the President, your senators, congressmen or other elected officials (US).
Write to your local Kenyan high commission or embassy, click here to find out the address.
How does Survival help? Survival is
currently supporting the Ogiek's struggle to prevent their forest being handed
over to settlers and commercial interests, which would ensure its destruction
and deprive the Ogiek of both their land and their livelihood.