Indigenous leaders, academicians, and policymakers have called for a stronger focus on indigenous-led research to influence policies that directly impact on local communities.
Speaking during the opening of the PACT 4th International Conference on Indigenous-Led Research in Narok town, Kimaren Riamet, Executive Director of the Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA), urged indigenous scholars to take the lead in shaping research agendas.
“We need indigenous research by indigenous scholars and academicians in order to come up with policies that resonate with indigenous communities on the ground,” Riamet said.
He added that access to research resources on traditional knowledge systems remains limited, creating a gap in policy and practice.
The three-day conference, which also marked the inaugural Africa and Local Communities Dialogue Strategy under the Forests and People Climate Program of CLUA, brought together policymakers, researchers, indigenous professors, and development partners.
Discussions focused on policies supporting indigenous-led research and education, pathways for access to biodiversity and climate finance, the role of media in amplifying indigenous voices, and working groups on well-being indicators and education.
Prof. Sarone Ole Sena, who has been researching education in Narok since 1995, stressed the importance of anchoring studies in local realities.
“We are intending to transform villages in Africa through research and education. Despite academia opposing researchers from working in their home ground, we use the anthropological EMIC approach, beginning research in the village and the community’s development,” he explained.
Prof. Sena emphasized that indigenous research should be “community-centric and policy-related,” noting its value in solving everyday social and human challenges.
The role of long-established indigenous organizations also came into focus. KIPUK NGO, which has conducted research on animals, birds, wildlife, and cattle since 1995 in Oleporos- Ololulunga, was cited as a model of how indigenous research can contribute to conservation, education, politics, and capacity building.
Simon Kirempe, a researcher in the Mau Complex, argues conservation cannot succeed without indigenous knowledge.
“The Mau has been a political contestation issue for decades. Policy makers should come up with indigenous research in this field,” he said, calling for grassroots-driven solutions that governments can adopt.
Dr. Daniel Naikuni, a senior lecturer at Maasai Mara University, urged researchers to align their work with policymaking.
“We must conduct research that resonates with policy making and serves indigenous communities. It should provide problem-solving insights that both levels of government in Kenya can relate to,” he argued.
The government has prioritized safeguarding minorities and marginalized communities through the newly established unit in the executive office of the president.
Addressing the indigenous communities, Lowoi Lodeya, Secretary for Minorities and Marginalized Affairs, pointed to constitutional provisions that protect minority communities and intervention policies are being developed for the same.
“The Constitution of Kenya, Article 100, has clearly identified marginalized communities. The government is working on policies for indigenous people, and by December, the minority policy will be launched, followed by the enactment of the law next year during the celebration of the National Indigenous Day,” he announced.
On the global research stage, Prof. Koisaba Ben, a Kenyan academician and an adjunct professor in the United States and a multibillion-dollar international grant reviewer, challenged Kenyan scholars to be more proactive in seeking grants.
“The grants are there, but it’s up to scholars to seize these fluid opportunities from donors,” he said.
Prof. Koisaba lamented the lack of submission of papers for grants from Kenyan academics. “For the last three years, I have been reviewing grants for the African Academy of Science, and I haven’t seen a grant seeker or paper from Kenyan scholars. Money is in grants, let’s come up with papers to be published. Yes, the process takes about three years, but it’s worth it. Unfortunately, many Kenyan scholars prefer paying for quick publishing in paid journals instead,” he remarked.
The 4th PACT conference acted as a networking session, reaffirming the commitment of indigenous peoples, local communities, states, academia, development partners, donors and youth to advancing indigenous-led research and climate solutions across the global South.
By Lamech Willy.A
