Why Sengwer community is seeking to be included in protection of Embobut Forest

A section of Embobut forest in Elgeyo Marakwet County. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

He continues: "The Sengwer has shrines and worship places, circumcision sites, sacred grounds, oathing areas and medicine-rich areas within the forest."

According to the spokesman, the community developed its conservation by-laws, which were approved by the Kenya Forest Service, as it sought to collaborate with the State on Embobut forest conservation and management. Two years ago, a plan by the European Union to inject Sh3.6 billion to hasten the regeneration of the Cherangany water tower was cancelled after the indigenous community complained about human rights violations during evictions.

According to the plan, the Sh3.6 billion would have replenished the declining bamboo and indigenous trees which were destroyed by illegal squatters, and boost water levels in the several rivers and streams which start from within the forest.

"We wrote a letter to the EU after we got wind that the water towers protection money would be used to perpetuate human rights against the community. The EU visited the forest and discovered that our rights were being violated," Mr Kiptuka explained.

He says the community will continue demanding to be part of forest conservation, while living and practicing its culture within it.

"It asked the Government to engage with the Sengwer on how we would collaboratively manage the forest without violent evictions. The State failed to end the injustices and eventually, the water towers programme lapsed as the Government delayed resolving the stand-off," he said.