The National Assembly has received a petition seeking the revocation of the gazettement of Mukogodo Forest Reserve as a public forest and its reclassification as a community forest to be managed by local communities in Laikipia County.

Laikipia North MP, Hon. Sarah Korere, presenting the petition on behalf of the Il Ngwesi and Yaaku communities, told the House that the 30,189-hectare forest, gazetted in 1964, has historically been safeguarded by the two communities for centuries.

“The Mukogodo Forest borders four areas designated as community land. They are: Il Ngwesi to the southeast, Mayianat to the southwest, Shulumai to the northwest, and Lekurruki to the north. It also neighbours the Borana Wildlife Conservancy. The surrounding communities, including the Il Ngwesi and Yaaku, have safeguarded approximately 10,000 hectares of this forest land since the 14th Century; The forest’s importance as a place of residence, a sanctuary for cultural and religious practices, and a source of livelihood, the Il Ngwesi and Yaaku communities formed the Ilmamusi-Mukogodo Forest Association in 1998 to manage the forest. The Community Forest Association was formally registered in 2008 and became fully operational in 2016 with a duly constituted management committee comprising of 24 members,” stated Hon. Korere.

The Laikipia North lawmaker added that “Revoking the gazettement and reclassifying Mukogodo as a community forest will enhance control and management of forest resources, protect indigenous rights, promote devolved natural resource governance, and improve social cohesion.”

She explained that persistent insecurity, livestock banditry, and illegal occupation of the forest have displaced the Il Ngwesi and Yaaku, leading to the destruction of flora and fauna and disruption of livelihoods. The petitioners want 20,189 hectares designated as a community forest and the remaining 10,000 hectares allocated for the resettlement of the affected communities.

Laikipia Woman Representative Hon. Jane Kagiri backed the petition, noting that ambiguity over management of the forest has fueled insecurity.

“For more than 60 years of the Il Ngwesi and Yaaku communities taking care of Government forest, which is actually not their duty. However, they have done it diligently and with a lot of commitment.  We support the Petition that has been tabled here today because Mukogodo Forest is causing a lot of insecurity in Laikipia County. I believe it is because of the ambiguity of who is supposed to manage that forest. It is our plea that we allow the community to manage the forest because, by them doing so, it is going to create legitimate employment to the people. The cultural practice of our people is that they know what is food, what is medicine and what needs to be sustained and retained in the forest. So, it is our hope and prayer that we give our people the opportunity to manage the forest. I believe they will even ensure that there is security within the area,” she said.

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula clarified that the petition does not seek to abolish the forest, but to reclassify it under community management.

“Hon. Sarah Korere is asking for the forest to be degazetted as a Government forest and be gazetted as a community forest. We have many community forests where our hunter and gatherer communities live in harmony around the forests. They preserve forests sometimes even better than forest guards who continue cutting trees and selling timber, “stated Speaker Wetang’ula.

“We have many community forests where hunter-gatherer communities preserve them sometimes even better than forest guards,” he observed.

Hon.Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), supported the move, saying communities are better placed to conserve traditional trees and enhance security in the forest. “Laikipia North Constituency borders Buuri Constituency, and I share the largest boundary with it. Mukogodo Forest is one the forests that should revert to the community because whenever we have security issues, bandits hide there. The community is better-placed to manage that area. This Petition is very important. We have worked on returning Giitune Sacred and Ngare Ndare Forests to the community, and the process is ongoing. The other forest that we are currently working on together is Mukogodo,” said Hon. Rindikiri.

Hon. Rindikiri added that, “It is very important to give it back to the community to uphold corporate responsibility. They are better-placed to manage the forest because, as it is right now, we have traditional trees and grazing is potential in that area. However, the Government is not able to take care of it. The community is willing to do a lot of environmental conservation to preserve those traditional trees. We believe that if this Petition is successful, the community will benefit in the long run; rather than leaving the forest as it is right now.”

The matter was referred to the Public Petitions Committee.