Kenya: Local Lobbying for inclusion of IN Data

Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA) and Mainyioto Pastoralists Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO) organized a breakfast meeting with the Pastoral Parliamentary Group (PPG), held on April 8th, 2019, InterContinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya to introduce the Indigenous Navigator, discuss the SDGs and the role of indigenous peoples and explore partnerships.

 
The meeting was attended by 5 honorable members of parliament (MPs) drawn from the IN-project pilot sites (Narok and Kajiado counties). The Parliamentary Caucus on SDGs and the SDGs Kenya Forum also participated. The meeting’s objectives were;

1. Introduction of the Indigenous Navigator project to the Members of the Pastoral Parliamentary Group (PPG);
2. Discussions on the SDGs and the place of Indigenous peoples & the  role of the PPG  and;
3. Exploring partnerships with PPG and other key SDG actors (Parliamentary Caucus on SDGs and SDG Kenya forum)

Copyright/photographer

ILEPA

Mr. Kimaren- ILEPA’s Executive Director presented the overview of the Indigenous Navigator Project, emphasizing on the three project pillars; Pillar 1: Generation of Data, Pillar 2: Engaging and influencing National Processes/ legislation based on IN data generated and Pillar 3: Implementation of small-grants pilot projects at the community level.

Mr. Twala- Indigenous Navigator National Coordinator shared the preliminary Indigenous Navigator data and the community’s reactions on the status of UNDRIP implementation and realization of SDG’s aspiration at the ground.

Ms. Wangari from the Parliamentary Caucus on SDGs and Business shared on the Caucus’ purpose and strategy.  She pointed out that the caucus was formed under the Parliament’s standing orders with the aim of promoting sustainable development and responsive business through legislation, representation, oversight and partnerships. The caucus endeavour to build partnerships between the Civil Societies and the Parliamentarians; and to link the information from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KBS) with the information on the ground through the parliamentarians.

Ms. Florence- National Coordinator- SDGs Kenya forum noted that the country’s implementation of the SDGs is not good. MPs play an integral role in monitoring the implementation of the development projects in their constituencies and ensure that the projects that they carry out in their constituencies are aligned to the SDGs.

 MP’s reactions to these presentations:

• The IN-data collection should strive to meet the basic universal guidelines of research
• What are the practical interventions of addressing community livelihoods needs through the IN project beyond the board room meeting and data collected?
• Are there any legislation gaps that need to be addressed?

Action points:

• The MPs committed to push for the necessary legislation to help accomplish the realisation of SDG’s aspiration.
• The implementing partners were challenged to look at existing laws related to IP’s and SDG’s and identify any gaps and shared to the legislators for actions.
• MPs were requested to be included as Members of the Parliamentary Caucus on SDGs and Business
• Creation of an email group between the IN Project Implementors and the PPG where the conversation and discussion on SDGs could be sustained
• Explore strategies to channel Constituency Development Funds resources to areas of concern as indicated by the IN data

With these points agreed, the meeting was closed. The Indigenous Navigator team in Kenya look forward to continued and improved relations with the government in the second half of 2019.