Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
6
Comments
Forest evictions in Kenya :Balancing between conservation and human rights |
|---|
|
by BONFACE OBUBA | 07-10-2018 22:36
|
|
The Mau is the most important water tower in the country. It is a source of 13 rivers, six of which feed Lake Victoria. It is the largest indigenous montane forest in East Africa covering about 273,300 hectares. But people had been duped into settling in the forest by unscrupulous politicians and business people throughout the years and in the process of time, they have diminished the forest cover. In 2009, the Water Tower Agency established that only 430 out of the 40, 000 settlers have genuine title deeds. Human rights issues There are allegations of human rights being violated in the eviction process. People are forced out and their houses burnt. There are also some cases of rape propagated by the security men. About 9 schools in that region have since been closed. The African Court on Human and Peoples? Rights ruled that the government of Kenya had violated the rights of Ogieks, indigenous peoples who dwell in the forest. "By expelling the Ogieks from their ancestral land against their will, without prior consultation and without respecting the conditions of expulsion in the interests of public need, the respondent (Kenyan government) violated the right to land," the court ruled. Political contest In 2008, the issue of the Mau became a heated political row between two of the most popular politicians in Kenya, Raila Odinga and William Ruto. It is unfortunate that critical national issues such as this are seen as opportunities for political arm-wrestling. But in this year's eviction dissenting voices were fewer because both the opposition and government leaders supported this undertaking(the evictions). The ministry of Forestry plans to rehabilitate the forest by fencing, establishing real-time surveillance and involving the local communities in the management of the forest. As it does this, however, human rights should be protected. We should draw a line between conservation and the violation of human rights. References https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-rights-ogiek/african-court-rules-kenya-violates-forest-peoples-land-rights-idUSKBN18M1ZC |
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : (August's Topic/20th ambas...
6 Comments
Very well said Rosa, Israel and the mentors
Posted 15-10-2018 14:21
Hello Bonface
The point of preserving the environment is to make a coexisting world that respects every living being equally. The government should have taken a more considerate cautious move about this issue so that everyone could meet an acceptable end. Hope more conversations could be made to find an optimal way to figure out this problem.
Thanks for the report!
Posted 10-10-2018 00:22
Hello Bonface, I actually read that article in the reference on the day this article was uploaded on the page.
Securing and managing Mau forest in different way is recommended but it is afraid to say that the government does not seem to have plans to do so.
In this way we have very few options to go over : suggesting individual or social group-led ideas for the government or carrying out campaigns that government did not expect. However, to make this activities succeed in the end, scientific and very precise supporting reference must be handled for campaigns and civil protests.
Otherwise, it would not gonna succeed as government has its own reason or logic to eradicate the forest.
Thanks for your report, and hope the government has its other means to manage this.
Posted 09-10-2018 18:20
Many thanks, Rosa and Israel for your kind and thoughtful comments.
Posted 08-10-2018 15:23
As the Kenyan government is after the protection of the Mou forest, it also necessary for them to preserve the lifes of citizens that live in that forest. They should have earlier informed the forest settlers and ensure that the eviction process did not violet human rights.
Thanks for the report Boniface.
Posted 08-10-2018 05:03
Hi Bonface!
I am for the idea of securing the Mau forest. But at the expense of the native people who have inhabited the forest for many year is completely wrong.
I think the government should consider focusing on those who don't have actual title deeds to begin with. Talk to the mates and letting them understand the gravity of the problem. Because now we have instances of harassment and assault, thus this roll out of theirs did not provision for such risks on the Ogieks.
I believe that the forest must be protected, with the aid of the people there, they know that forest way better and could prove helpful.
Thanks Bonface!
Posted 08-10-2018 00:47