The Ogiek community is a minority and indigenous community living across six counties (Kericho, Nakuru, Narok, Baringo, Nandi and Uasin Gishu) in Mau Forest complex. Traditionally, the Ogiek are hunter gatherers and depend on the forest for their survival. The Ogiek community are about 52,000 according the 2019 KNBS national census.
The Ogiek community have spent many years in corridors of justice pursing land rights and recognition in Kenya. In 2017, the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) ruled in favor of the Ogiek community, upholding Ogiek community claim over Mau forest. The same court in June 2022 made reparation ruling outlining restitution and compensation of the Ogiek community for moral and material damages.
The Ogiek community have been left behind in all development process at all level of government. The areas resided by the Ogiek community are least developed lacking the most basic human needs such as limited access to health and education. The Ogiek community do not participate in decision making forums where key decisions are made towards implementation. Initially the Ogiek have been missing out public participation at the county level yet public participation is a constitutional requirement specifically, Article 1 that states that sovereign power belongs to the people and Article 10 (2) (a) and the Fourth Schedule Part 2 (14) of the Constitution of Kenya and is stipulated as a function of the County Government.
On March 2023 Tirap Youth Trust (TYT) organized for awareness forum in Kiptororo location. The main objective was to create awareness on health and education related issues and how the community can engage the county government on this matters.The forum was attended by over 50 participants from the Ogiek community of South West Mau. Tirap Youth Trust is an Ogiek youth led organization in Kenya formed in 2019 and registered in 2022. The meeting was held in a local church within Kiptororo location.