This was after a researcher from a British institution collected microorganisms from the lake in 1992 without proper authorisation and later sold them to companies in the Netherlands and the United States.
This incident sparked a legal battle as the Kenyan government sought to hold the corporations accountable for exploiting the country's natural resources and for not sharing the financial benefits of their subsequent innovations with Kenya.
"As a community, we have previously lost some of our genetic resources. We are now aware of our rights and responsibilities in so far as protection, conservation and monitoring the proper use of our resources is concerned," Richard Kamworor, the CEO of Endorois Welfare Council says.
And now, the community, just like the indigenous Ogieks of Mau, have come up with a tool that will help them negotiate for a better share of benefits derived from their historical lands and from their knowledge.
"This tool controls exploitation of the community's natural resources by researchers, research institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies among other entities without consent, by providing clear terms and conditions to regulate access to the community's assets," says Daniel Kobei, the Executive director of the Ogiek People's Development Program.
The communities want the national and county governments to put in place appropriate policies and legal frameworks to ensure the protection and conservation of our genetic resources.
"This document, for example, has been incorporated into the Lake Bogoria National Reserve Management Plan. This means that it entails how the community can benefit from the resources of Lake Bogoria National Reserve and its environs," Kamworor says.
Endorois have since shared their tool of negotiation with Baringo County government while the Ogiek have shared theirs within the Counties where the community reside, including Nakuru, Narok, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kericho and Baringo Counties.