KENYA: Maasai people gather to mark World Indigenous Day and receive an international award

Record ID: 361551

  • Title: KENYA: Maasai people gather to mark World Indigenous Day and receive an international award
  • Date: 11th August 2007
  • Summary: A MAASAI REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE ON BEHALF OF THE MAASAI COMMUNITY
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: People,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVABFVWCDRS4I4RUDLPZXHRATAIO
  • Story Text: The International Day of the World's Indigenous People is held every year on August 9. This year the celebrations have a special significance for the Maasai people that roam East Africa with their livestock.
    An Kenyan NGO has won an award from the International Human Rights Commission for its role in fighting for the rights of the Maasai, and the community has been invited to celebrate.
    The Manyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organisation was formed in 1996 to help protect and promote the rights of the Maasai.
    "So the reason why we are here is because the International Human Rights Commission gave us an award that we think as an organization it does not belong to us. It belongs to the people that have been facilitating. Our existence base on those local communities, in the same community that we want to present the same award," said Ole Timpati, a programme manager with the organisation.
    One example of the group's activities was a landmark case they won on behalf of the il chamus - a Maasai sub-clan. The il chamus - with a population of about 70,000 - complained that they were neglected by their member of parliament who belongs to another tribal group. Manyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organisation went to court and got the Electoral Commission of Kenya to carve out a constituency for the il chamus ahead of general elections this year.
    "And therefore we have made a lot of success in number of land cases by using the law to achieve the rights of the people who cannot achieve those rights, and that is the key reason why we are here," added Ole Timpati.
    The United Nations hopes to pass a declaration on indigenous peoples so as to protect the rights of indigenous people who are usually marginalised and oppressed.
    Kenya has opposed the adoption of the declaration and refused to accept the term 'indigenous peoples' because it is discriminatory. Other African countries like Namibia are also against its adoption. The Maasai are amongst 23 communities in Kenya that would be considered indigenous if the declaration is passed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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