Endorois community at the Verge of Being Extinct
Following a verdict by the African court case to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) on the case between the Endorois community versus the republic of Kenyan that found violations of human rights.Today the minority group of Endorois community is which has 20,000 people is on the verge of being extinct.
During a visit to Muchongoi ward , Baringo South Constituency in Baringo County, lake Bogoria has made life for the community a disaster this after the lake broke it’s boundaries leading to rising of water levels , swallowing of homes, shops, health centres, latrines, electricity supplies, farmland, tourist resorts and more. Malaria, cholera, typhoid and dysentery are increasing. Wildlife is also under threat; conflict has broken out between people and animals and old grievances between neighbouring groups have resurfaced.
Since it started rising, Lake Bogoria surface area has more than doubled, and it isn’t alone. Right across the East African Rift valley, lake water is creeping over animal and human heads. And where East Africa leads, much of the rest of the world is following North America’s Great rift is part of it .
While addressing members of the fourth estate Samuel Kiptek an elder of Endorois community is a Calling for legislators and Kenyan government to answer on their plea of getting compensation on their ancestoral land.
” When the town submerged our life have not been very easy ,imagine living In place where you can’t do any development , walking for 20km to get services it’s a real hustle, I fear that in another 10years to come there won’t be the Endorois community if no intervention will happen as soon as possible “Says Samuel Kiptek.
According to findings of the Arusha court in 2010 which stated that the Kenyan government had violated the African Charter on human Rights certain aspects of the Commission decision have been realized, the Kenyan government has mostly not complied with the recommendations yet. The case represents the first legal recognition of an African indigenous peoples’ .
Geoffrey Kerosi East Africa Project Coordinator on Minority Rights Group Africa calls for stakeholders to address the recommendations that the Kenya Government recognize the Endorois community’s right of ownership of their ancestral lands, restitute to the Endorois their ancestral lands and compensate them for their losses.
“I support the move that of the Community should have unlimited access to Lake Bogoria National Reserve (LBNR) and benefit from the royalties and employment opportunities within the game reserve. “Said Mr Geoffrey.
Mr Billy Rwothungeyo Africa Media Officer, Minority RIGHTS Group (MRG) is calling for the current Kenyan regime to address the land injustices that happened to the Endorois community especially when now another calamity has hit on climate change .
“The non-implementation of the recommendations of the Endorois Decision has negatively impacted the community’s livelihoods, consigning many of its members to severe poverty, illiteracy, poor health and a life of destitution.” Billy Media relations Officer.
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