Ogiek elders: Our culture is under threat
Rift Valley
By
Osinde Obare
| Aug 12, 2025
The Ogiek living in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County, on Saturday celebrated World Indigenous Peoples Day, with elders warning that their culture is under threat.
Cosmas Murunga, Chepkitale Ogiek Governing Council chairman said that their disintegration was also eroding the community’s rich culture. He called for swift action to check the trend.
Murunga said that the identity of the Ogiek is deeply rooted in environmental conservation, but outside forces are trying to undermine the community’s culture for selfish gains.
“Our identity is rooted in environmental conservation. You cannot separate us from trees, but we are worried that our culture is under threat from education, religion, wealth, and disintegration,” observed Murunga during celebrations at Laboot Centre in the Chepkitale area.
Elders declared environmental conservation as a key priority of the community and urged for support from the government and development partners in order to uphold their culture.
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The elders led the community to denounce the proposed cultivation of potatoes in the area, saying any kind of farming is against the culture of the community.
Last year, Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi asked the Ogiek to start the cultivation of potatoes to improve their livelihood, a proposal that attracted vehement opposition from community elders.
The elders noted that their community purely depends on honey and milk for survival and persuaded the government to support the ban on potato cultivation instigated by the MP targeting to undermine the community’s culture.
During the ceremony, various cultural demonstrations, including wrestling and the cooking of traditional food, were staged.
The community outlined its commitment to environmental conservation, arguing that it defines its identity.
Prof Johnson Changeiywo, a lecturer at Egerton University, led the community to oppose calls for the cultivation of potatoes, arguing that farming would destroy the environment.
“God blessed us with honey and milk, and those who induce our people to engage in cultivation want to destroy our culture,” said Prof Chengeiywo.
Encouraging the community to observe traditional ways to conserve the environment, the don urged the community to ignore outsiders trying to introduce them to a new way of life.
“Don’t listen to outsiders. Let us stick to our rich culture. Let the elders pass culture to the next generation so that our community remains intact,” he said.
Linet Chepkemoi said local women had initiated cultural activities held quarterly to educate the young generation about traditional lifestyles.
Mt Elgon Assistant County Commissioner, Mr Samson Koech, supported the community’s stand on the conservation of the environment.
Koech lauded the community’s traditional lifestyle and linked it to the high protection of the forest.