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DAYS in the COLD: KHRC's Report Into the Embobut Forest Evictions

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DAYS in the COLD: KHRC's Report Into the Embobut Forest Evictions DAYS IN THE COLD 2014 Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions The report unravels the surroundings leading to forceful evictions witnessed in “Embobut with the aim of identifying the forces and causes of the eviction, find out“ the state, nature and extent of human rights violations as well as to determine the humanitarian assistance situation on the ground. ii DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions iii DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions iv Acronyms…..................................................................................................................................vi Glossary of terms…...................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................ix Foreword…....................................................................................................................................x Executive Summary….................................................................................................................xi Kenya’s History of forest evictions….......................................................................................xi Chapter One: …............................................................................................................................1 Introduction…...................................................................................................................1 Background and Methodology…...................................................................................2 Geographical Location of Embobut…............................................................................4 Map depicting Marakwet East Constituency…............................................................5 Political boundaries of Elgeyo Marakwet….................................................................6 Key Findings…..................................................................................................................6 Compensation and Resettlement…................................................................................8 Ethnic and Religious Composition….............................................................................9 Socio economic profile…...............................................................................................10 Land settlement history….............................................................................................10 Land Tenure….................................................................................................................11 Land Degradation….......................................................................................................10 Forest Conservation…....................................................................................................11 Forest eviction in Embobut…........................................................................................13 Categories of Squatters…...............................................................................................13 Permit holders and their associates…..........................................................................14 Landslide victims…........................................................................................................14 Forest dwellers…............................................................................................................14 Chapter Two: …..........................................................................................................................17 Analysis of Legal and Normative Framework….......................................................17 Human Rights Obligations as whole….......................................................................17 A. Nationally…...............................................................................................................18 B. Regionally…..............................................................................................................19 C. Internationally….......................................................................................................19 Government’s responsibility to forced evictions in Embobut..................................21 DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions v Chapter Three: …........................................................................................................................22 Key Analysis of events to present time…....................................................................22 Chapter Four: …..........................................................................................................................25 Impact of Forceful Evictions in Embobut…................................................................25 Loss of property and psychological injury to the evictees…....................................25 Number of families displaced…...................................................................................26 Livelihood…....................................................................................................................26 Health and psycho-social support…............................................................................27 Education….....................................................................................................................27 Housing…........................................................................................................................28 Loss of valuable documents…......................................................................................28 Analysis of the Role of the Various Actors in the in regard to eviction…..............28 Direct actors….................................................................................................................29 Indirect actors…..............................................................................................................29 Chapter Five: …...........................................................................................................................30 Conclusion and Recommendations…..........................................................................30 Conclusion…...................................................................................................................30 Key recommendations…................................................................................................31 List of interviewees….....................................................................................................34 Annexes 1….....................................................................................................................35 Annexes 2 Annexes 3 Annexes 4 DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions vi Acronyms ACHPR - African Charter on Human and Political Rights ACHWA - African Charter on Rights of Women in Africa ACRWC - African Charter on the Rights and welfare of the Child ADC - Agricultural Development Corporations AP Administration Police ASAL Arid and semi-arid land CA - Children’s Act CAT - Convention against Torture CBO - Community Based Organizations CC - County Council CEDAW - Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination on Women CLOS - Community Land Ownership Systems COHRE - Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions CoK - Constitution of Kenya CRA - Commission on Revenue Allocation CRC - Convention on the Rights of the Child CRPD - Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities FBO - Faith Based Organizations FFMT - Fact Finding Mission Team GoK - Government of Kenya Ha - Hectares HRC - Human Rights Council ICA - International Crimes Act IEBC - Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission ICCPR - International Convention on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR - International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ICGLR - International Conference on the Greats Lakes Region IDP(s) - Internally Displaced Persons KFS - Kenya Forest Service KFWG - Kenya Forest Working Group KHRC - Kenya Human Rights Commission KNBS Kenya - National Bureau of Statistics KRC - Kenya Red Cross MCA - Member of County Assembly MoU Memorandum of Understanding M.P - Member of Parliament NFI(s) - Non food items DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions vii NGO - Non Governmental Organization NLA - National Lands Act NPSA - National Police Service Act PC - Penal Code PWDA - Persons with Disabilities Act SFTP - Settlement Fund Trustees Programme UDHR - Universal Declaration on Human Rights UN - United Nations UNCERD - United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination UNCESCR - United Nations Commonwealth on Economic Social and Cultural Rights UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme UNHRC - United Nations Human Rights Commission URP - United Republican Party WBIP - World Bank Inspection Panel DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions viii Glossary of Terms Baraza - a public forum Clan – a group of Sengwer united by actual or perceived kinship as well as ideologies Totems - symbol representing an animal that serves as an emblem of the Sengwer communities DAYS IN THE COLD: KHRC’s Report into the Embobut Forest Evictions ix Acknowledgements he Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) thanks all who participated
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