Day of Indigenous People’s Celebration, August 9th by Meriwas.

 Indigenous Day celebration was held at Pois Rob. A settlement scheme inhabited by Samburu community who have been Internally Displaced as a results of ongoing conflicts in Isiolo, Samburu and Laikipia West.

This was a double celebration among the Indigenous samburu on August 9th, which coincided with ushering in a new dawn for them in the Kenyan history. The new Kenya constitution recognized and uplifts indigenous and minority communities their fundamental freedoms and rights.

Here are few goodies for IPs

Language and Culture

Article 7 of the new constitution obliges the state to promote and protect the diversity of language of the people of Kenya. The state is also obliged to promote the development and use of indigenous languages. Article 11 recognizes culture as the foundation of the nation and obliges the state to promote all forms of cultural expression through literature, the arts, traditional celebrations, science, communication, information, mass media, publications, libraries and other cultural heritage.

The state is also obliged to recognize the role of indigenous technologies in the development of the nation. Not only shall the state promote the intellectual property rights of the people of Kenya, Parliament is also required to enact legislation that will ensure communities receive compensation or royalties for the use of their cultures and cultural heritage, and legislation that will also recognize and protect the ownership of indigenous seeds and plant varieties, their genetic and diverse characteristics and their use by communities.

Under the Bill of Rights, Article 44 gives every person a right to use the language and participate in the cultural life of his/her choice.

Citizenship

By recognizing dual citizenship, the new constitution paves the way for indigenous communities, like the Maasai, that live across boundaries to benefit and too their mobility lifestyle.