The Ogiek community in Kenya is facing forceful eviction from their ancestral lands in the Mau Forest, allegedly driven by the government’s interest in profiting from carbon offsetting schemes. The Ogiek leader, Daniel Kobei, has reported that armed forest rangers are demolishing their homes, leaving hundreds of community members displaced. Human rights lawyers claim that the Kenyan government is using carbon credits and offsetting as a justification for the evictions, ultimately violating the indigenous community’s rights and ignoring their knowledge and stewardship of the land.
The Forest People’s Programme’s Dr. Justin Kenrick emphasizes the financial gains associated with Africa’s forests and how the involvement of offsetting companies is pushing the Kenyan government to assert control over the Mau Forest. This false climate solution not only leads to ongoing evictions but also perpetuates harmful emissions. Similarly, the International Lawyers Project’s director, Lucy Claridge, suspects a connection between the evictions and carbon credits, especially given recent negotiations with Dubai-based Blue Carbon and the government’s increased funding for forest conservation.
Numerous studies highlight the benefits of land ownership or management by indigenous communities in protecting the natural environment. However, the Ogiek’s rights to their ancestral land are being violated again, despite winning a landmark case in 2017. The African Court of Human and People’s Rights recognized their entitlement to live on the land and ordered the government to consult them before undertaking any projects. Moreover, the court mandated the government to pay reparations for past evictions.
The evictions in the Mau Forest area, which began without warning in November 2020, have affected approximately 700 individuals, including women and children. The Ogiek community has expressed their plea for the Kenyan government to reconsider and return their lands, highlighting the potential for conservation and the preservation of their unique heritage.
While Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry maintains that the operation aims to reclaim parts of the Mau Forest from encroachment and illegal logging activities, it calls for a humane approach. President William Ruto has acknowledged the importance of protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change, promising improved training and equipment for forest rangers.
It is crucial to address the plight of the Ogiek community in Kenya and ensure that their rights as indigenous people are respected. Additionally, the connection between carbon credits and forced evictions should be thoroughly scrutinized. The international community must advocate for the protection of vulnerable groups and the preservation of ancestral lands, ultimately challenging the misuse of climate change mitigation strategies for profit.
