A Phenomenological Examination of the Perceptions of Rights, Status, and Protection of Indigenous People in Kenya from the Perspective of the Ogiek People

This phenomenological study describes the rights of the indigenous Ogiek people in Kenya. The study was based on the world paradigm of international human rights and Kant's theory of human rights. The purpose of this study was to examine the scope and significance of the rights of the Ogiek people as an indigenous group. Research questions focused on the rights, protection, and status of the Ogiek people from the participants' perspectives. A purposive sampling procedure was used to select participants. Twelve interviews were conducted. Snowball sampling was used to identify potential participants. The study generated qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews that were transcribed, field notes from those interviews, and document review. Data were analyzed using Moustaka's 6-stage procedure for qualitative analysis. Key findings indicated that the Ogiek people's human, political, land, and natural resources rights have neither been defined, nor protected. The findings of this study will inform, promote, and advocate for positive social change in public policy and law, in order to increase the recognition and protection of the Ogiek people and their rights. This study gives voice to the Ogiek people and highlights the need to consider the criteria for acknowledging their rights and status as an officially recognized tribe in Kenya. These findings on the Ogiek people carry implications for other indigenous people, as well. Implications for positive social change include providing voice to indigenous peoples that can influence continued research and policy change which can result in improvements in the lives of indigenous peoples.