Kenya’s Indigenous Peoples submit a shadow report to CERD on 20th September 2024

Peoples in Kenya continue to face challenges related to racial discrimination despite the country’s strong constitutional and legislative frameworks prohibiting such vices. This is highlighted in a shadow report the Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE) submitted to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). It was presented on behalf of the CERD Indigenous Peoples Coalition on 19th September 2024.

The report notes that while Kenya has made major strides in the adoption of legal and policy frameworks to address the rights of the marginalised, minority and Indigenous communities, including disaggregating population data by ethnicity and creating national institutions to protect human rights, significant gaps remain in addressing the challenges Indigenous communities face. The contributing organisations compile the information in this report from primary and secondary sources. The process involved convening meetings to identify key issues and documenting, revising, and validating the report.

Apart from CEMIRIDE, other organisations that contributed to the report are Endorois Welfare Council (EWC), Article 43, Indigenous Peoples for Peace and Climate Justice (IPPCJ), Baringo Women and Youth Organization (BWYO) and Ogiek Peoples Development Program (OPDP).

Others were Narasha Community and Development Group (NCDG), Yiaku Laikipiak Trust (YLT), Ogiek Sisters Empowerment Network (OSEN), Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (EIWEN), and Community Land Action Now (CLAN).

Nareto Latia Indigenous Peoples Program, Chepkitale Indigenous Peoples Development Project (CIPDP), Network Empowering Samburu Transformation-NEST, ILEPA (Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners) and Indigenous Women Council (IWC) also contributed to the report.

This report was submitted in accordance with Article 9 of the Convention, following Kenya’s submission on November 17, 2021.