About Us
The Koibatek Ogiek Women & Youth Network (KOWYN) is an Indigenous, women- and youth-led community organization working to advance the rights, dignity, resilience, and sustainable development of the Ogiek people.
Based in Eldama Ravine, Baringo County, Kenya, KOWYN was established in response to the challenges facing Ogiek communities, including displacement, loss of ancestral land, cultural erosion, environmental degradation, food insecurity, and limited opportunities for women and young people.
Our work is grounded in a simple belief: communities should have the knowledge, voice, resources, and opportunities to shape their own future.
We work alongside Ogiek communities to strengthen livelihoods, restore ecosystems, protect Indigenous knowledge and culture, empower women and youth, and advocate for the recognition and protection of Ogiek rights.
Who Are the Ogiek?
The Ogiek are among the Indigenous hunter-gatherer communities of East Africa, with deep historical and cultural connections to the forests of Kenya.
For generations, the forest has been central to Ogiek identity, livelihoods, knowledge, and culture. Traditional knowledge of beekeeping, medicinal plants, forests, food systems, and environmental stewardship has been passed from one generation to another through community practice, oral traditions, and lived experience.
However, decades of displacement and loss of access to ancestral lands have created significant social, economic, environmental, and cultural challenges for Ogiek communities.
KOWYN works to ensure that Ogiek voices remain part of conversations about land, climate, conservation, development, culture, and human rights.
Our Story
From Community Challenges to Collective Action
KOWYN grew from the recognition that lasting change must be driven by the people directly affected by the challenges facing their communities.
Ogiek women and young people have historically played important roles in sustaining households, livelihoods, culture, and community knowledge. Yet they can face barriers to land access, economic opportunities, leadership, education, and meaningful participation in decision-making.
KOWYN brings women and youth together to strengthen their participation and leadership while creating practical community-based responses to social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Our approach combines community empowerment, advocacy, environmental restoration, sustainable livelihoods, cultural preservation, and healing.
We do not see these issues as separate.
For us, restoring the land is connected to restoring livelihoods. Protecting culture is connected to empowering young people. Food sovereignty is connected to climate resilience. And justice must include both the restoration of communities and the healing of people affected by displacement.
Our Mission
To promote the realization, respect, and protection of the fundamental human rights of the Ogiek people through socio-economic empowerment, advocacy, biodiversity conservation, climate action, and cultural preservation.
We work to create opportunities for Ogiek women and youth to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives, communities, environment, culture, and future.
Our Vision
An empowered Ogiek community living with dignity, security, and opportunity.
We envision a future where the Ogiek people can thrive while protecting their cultural identity, Indigenous knowledge, environment, and livelihoods.
A future where:
- Ogiek women and youth actively participate in leadership and decision-making.
- Indigenous knowledge and language are protected and passed to future generations.
- Communities have sustainable and resilient food systems.
- Forests, rivers, farms, and other ecosystems are restored and protected.
- Displaced communities have access to justice, healing, and opportunities to rebuild.
- Young people have the skills and opportunities to become community leaders.
- Ogiek rights and perspectives are recognized in decisions affecting their ancestral lands and resources.