Kenya

Initially known as the African Rift Valley Program based in Ethiopia, this program extended its reach to Kenya in 2009. Since 2018, we have focused on addressing Indigenous rights issues in Kenya with additional support for network-building and solidarity amongst Indigenous Peoples in other countries in East Africa, primarily Uganda and Tanzania.

Kenya is an important country on the African continent with a number of issues that Indigenous leaders are tackling to advance their communities. Some of their efforts include:

  • Advocating for Indigenous land rights and customary tenure rights under threat by land grabs, including appropriation of Indigenous land for mega infrastructure projects, mega irrigations, externally funded conservation projects, and oil exploitation.
  • Assisting communities in engaging with government and conservation agencies to integrate Indigenous Peoples, their knowledge, and practices to promote participatory conservation.
  • Supporting Indigenous Peoples in the self determination of their Indigenous livelihood systems including pastoralism, hunting and gathering, and fishing, which are neglected in favor of exotic and industrial food production.
  • Promoting Indigenous culture, languages, knowledge, and lifeways that are threatened by globalization. We support communities to engage in inter-generational knowledge transfer to protect their values and heritage.
  • Supporting networks and solidarity among Indigenous Peoples to build a consolidated advocacy for Indigenous Peoples rights across East Africa.

Meet Some of our Kenya Partners

Meet Some of our Kenya Partners

IMPACT has been our partner since 2016 and has grown to one of the lead allies in the region. In addition to leading advocacy on Indigenous land rights, IMPACT is supporting coordination and facilitation of Indigenous Peoples networks across East Africa.

IMPACT has been our partner since 2016 and has grown to one of the lead allies in the region. In addition to leading advocacy on Indigenous land rights, IMPACT is supporting coordination and facilitation of Indigenous Peoples networks across East Africa.

SWT has been our partner since 2015. Their advocacy on Indigenous rights is built around women’s rights and our grants help them to advocate for inclusion of women on land matters including securing tenure rights.

SWT has been our partner since 2015. Their advocacy on Indigenous rights is built around women’s rights and our grants help them to advocate for inclusion of women on land matters including securing tenure rights.

A partner since 2016, this is a women-led Indigenous organization working in northern Kenya to support women’s rights. Pastoralist Women for Health and Education focuses on health, education, governance, peace-building and economic empowerment. Funding from The Christensen Fund has gone towards projects that improve the livelihood and wellbeing of women and their land tenure rights as provided for in the Community Land Act of 2016.

A partner since 2016, this is a women-led Indigenous organization working in northern Kenya to support women’s rights. Pastoralist Women for Health and Education focuses on health, education, governance, peace-building and economic empowerment. Funding from The Christensen Fund has gone towards projects that improve the livelihood and wellbeing of women and their land tenure rights as provided for in the Community Land Act of 2016.

A partner since 2015, DLCI is an Indigenous-led organization working to support pro-Indigenous peoples policy development. The organization partners with a caucus of legislators elected by Indigenous Peoples in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.

A partner since 2015, DLCI is an Indigenous-led organization working to support pro-Indigenous peoples policy development. The organization partners with a caucus of legislators elected by Indigenous Peoples in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.

CRDD is an Indigenous-led organization supporting research aimed at informing policies in order to counter negative narratives that are disadvantageous to the Indigenous People. In the last few years, the organization has focused on producing evidence on resilience and sustainability in the pastoral production system.

CRDD is an Indigenous-led organization supporting research aimed at informing policies in order to counter negative narratives that are disadvantageous to the Indigenous People. In the last few years, the organization has focused on producing evidence on resilience and sustainability in the pastoral production system.

To read more about the organizations and visit their websites, please click on the plus button (+) on the left.