BY FRED NGUSILO
The Sasimwani Ogiek Community in Narok are in deep grief following the tragic death of 18-year-old Francis Mailoji.
On the afternoon of December 16, 2024, Mailoji and his colleague were tending to their livestock in the Sasimwani forest when they were suddenly frightened and chased by Kenya Forest Rangers.
While Mailoji’s kin was captured by the rangers and later released, Mailoji tragically drowned after fleeing into a river.
The news of Mailoji’s death sparked outrage among the Sasimwani residents, who marched to the Kenya Forest Rangers camp seeking assistance in rescuing Mailoji. When their pleas for help were ignored, the community’s frustration boiled over, leading to the burning of the rangers’ camp the following day.
In response, KFS deployed additional officers to the area, who have since turned violent towards the community members involved in the rescue operations. The circumstances surrounding Mailoji’s death are being downplayed and covered up, hindering rescue efforts.
This incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights violations faced by the Sasimwani community, who were evicted from their homes in November 2023. The eviction left hundreds of families displaced, severely impacting children’s access to education.
The Sasimwani community has strong ancestral and historical claims to the Maasai Mau forest, particularly in the Natuyupaki location of Narok North sub-county. Despite a favorable ruling from the African Court in 2017, which resolved to allocate communal land to the Sasimwani, the decision has yet to be implemented.
The Narok County government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, must facilitate the land tenure rights and registration of Sasimwani community land in accordance with the Community Land Registration Act of 2016.
This move is essential to end the prolonged suffering of the Sasimwani people and ensure their rightful access to their ancestral lands.
