The Ogiek's Struggle for Autonomy and Democracy in Kenya's Mau Forest - REDWeb Article

[Pooja Kishinani]

Dear All, 

Our latest story on REDWeb may be of interest- 

The Ogiek's Struggle for Autonomy and Redefining Democracy in Kenya's Mau Forest by Daniel M Kobei 

The Mau Forest has been home to the Ogiek community for thousands of years. However, their traditional way of life is increasingly under threat as they face forceful evictions from their ancestral lands. The Ogiek community's struggle for land rights and recognition of customary laws illuminates profound insights into autonomy, democracy, and power dynamics. Their journey underscores the transformative potential of 'power-with' and 'power-to' paradigms, challenging conventional notions of political and economic democracy.

Read the full article here- https://radicalecologicaldemocracy.org/the-ogieks-struggle-for-autonomy-and-redefining-democracy-in-kenyas-mau-forest/ 

Note: This article was originally published in “Radical Democracy: recovering the roots of self-governance & autonomy” by the Global Tapestry of Alternatives in December 2025. Read other stories in the series here. 

Warmly, 

Pooja

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Pooja Kishinani 

Curator, Radical Ecological Democracy 

Coordinator, The Emergence Network (ten)

Member, Kalpavriksh Environment Action Group