Endorois wait for State action over AU ruling on land

By KARANJA NJOROGE

The Endorois community is concerned over Government’s reluctance to honour a landmark ruling made in their favour by the African Commission last year.

Endorois Welfare Council Chairman Charles Kamuren said the community would hold prayers at Lake Bogoria on Sunday to mark one year since the ruling.

"The Government is busy seeking the involvement of the African Union on the International Criminal Court yet it has failed to honour a ruling made by the AU court. That is impunity," Mr Kamuren said.

The African Commission on People and Human Rights ordered the Government to restore Endorois to their ancestral land and compensate them.

The community’s ancestral prayer sites, places for circumcision and other cultural ceremonies are situated around Lake Bogoria.

The regional court also found that the community’s eviction with minimal compensation violated their right as an indigenous people to property, health, culture, religion and natural resources.

The unprecedented ruling was hailed as a major victory for minority communities.

Uphold ruling

Kamuren, who was speaking to the Press in Nakuru yesterday, said despite promises by the Government to uphold the ruling no effort is being made to achieve the same.

He said they would be seeking divine intervention over the matter. Celebrations to mark the ruling last year were attended by senior Government officials and Cabinet ministers including Lands Minister James Orengo who assured the community of his support in ensuring the ruling is implemented.

In the landmark ruling delivered in February last year, the Commission called for the recognition of the Endorois’ ownership of their ancestral land, and its restitution.