Endorois ruling task force formed
A man herds cows on the shores of Lake Bogoria. FILE PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA |
What you need to know:
- The ruling by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in February 2010 called for restitution of the Endorois people’s land near Lake Bogoria.
- Last year, the Endorois people appealed to President Kibaki to fast-track implementation of the ruling.
President Kenyatta has formed a task force to oversee implementation of a ruling compelling the government to compensate people who lost their land.
The ruling by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in February 2010 called for restitution of the Endorois people’s land near Lake Bogoria.
The 60,000 ethnic group was evicted in the 1970s and its land turned into a conservancy. They were moved to an area they said was unsuitable for them.
In 1998 they unsuccessfully lodged a case at the High Court.
With the support of national and international rights groups, they took the case to the commission.
The African agency on people’s rights upholds rights laid down by the African Charter on Human Rights.
Last year, the Endorois people appealed to President Kibaki to fast-track implementation of the ruling.
In the latest issue of the Kenya Gazette, President Kenyatta named members of the task force to be chaired by the Solicitor-General.
“The task force may remain in office for at least one year or for such longer period as may be prescribed,” said the notice.
THE ENVIRONMENT
It will provide guidance on the political, security and economic implications of the ruling. It will also examine what impact the implementation of the ruling will have on the environment.
Further, the task force members will examine the practicability of restitution of the lake to the Endorois people since Lake Baringo is classified as a world heritage site by Unesco.
The team will also come up with proposals on the amount of compensation and settlement of royalties from economic activities in and around the lake.
