Marginalised Voices Lead Policy Dialogue in Koibatek: Communities Review National Policy Draft on Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities (2025–2035)

The Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) convened a highly productive public review session bringing together members of the Ogiek, Nubian, and other marginalised communities across Koibatek Sub-County to review and contribute to the First Draft of the National Policy on Ethnic Minorities and Marginalised Communities (2025–2035).

The session created an open and inclusive space where community members freely shared their lived experiences, challenges, and recommendations to ensure the final policy reflects the realities of those it seeks to uplift.

Community Voices at the Centre

Participants highlighted a range of pressing issues affecting marginalised groups in Baringo County from education and representation to land rights and justice access.

Key challenges discussed included:

• Limited access to quality education for children from minority communities.
• Lack of a unified institutional mechanism to coordinate programs addressing marginalisation.
• Weak implementation of existing legal and policy frameworks.
• Limited political representation and exclusion from key decision-making processes.
• Land insecurity and resource-based marginalisation.
• Data gaps and visibility issues, particularly regarding access to justice and social services.

A strong concern was raised over rampant corruption and nepotism in government recruitment processes. Participants urged the government to establish a transparent, community-based oversight mechanism to monitor employment and service recruitment ensuring fairness, especially for minorities.

Unique Context of Baringo’s Diversity

The discussions also reflected the unique cosmopolitan nature of Baringo County. It was noted that even within the county, communities that may be nationally dominant can experience marginalisation at the local level.

“For instance, a Kikuyu in Ravine may still face exclusion because the Tugen community is the majority here,” noted one participant. “This shows how marginalisation is context-specific it changes with geography and power dynamics.”

Youth and Women Speak Out

Youth voices, particularly from the Ogiek and Nubian communities, played a central role in the dialogue.
Eugenia, a young woman from Koibatek, lamented that while many youth from minority communities are now educated, they continue to face systemic barriers in accessing employment and leadership opportunities.

“We are qualified and ready to serve,” she said, “but opportunities are still locked behind political and ethnic gatekeeping.”

Shadrack, an Ogiek youth from Mlango Moja, raised concerns about ongoing land injustices, including forced evictions that have left many Ogiek families displaced and living as squatters.
He and others called on leaders to fast-track the issuance of title deeds to secure ancestral land rights for Indigenous communities.

The Nubian community also highlighted the growing issue of labour export, where many young people are forced to seek employment abroad due to unemployment at home often facing hardship and exploitation in foreign countries.

The Road Ahead

Following the successful review session, KOWYN will compile the insights and recommendations gathered into a unified community report. The next step is to present this report in Marigat, where it will inform the Baringo County Public Participation forum on the National Policy.

“We’re ensuring that the voices from the ground are the ones shaping the government’s final document,” said a KOWYN representative. “This is what true participation and inclusion look like.”