Burning a home that “doesn’t exist,” arresting people who “aren’t there”

This chapter examines the evictions of the Sengwer from their forests at Embobut between Independence and 2016. The Sengwer are an indigenous people living along the slopes of the Cherangany Hills in three administrative districts of Kenya: Trans-Nzoia, West Pokot, and Elgeyo-Marakwet. The Sengwer livelihood, health system and culture have depended on natural resources found in the forests. Resistance to the concept of indigeneity is a common pattern in Africa. Recognizing the specific ways in which international involvement in indigenous peoples’ situations can negatively impact on their situation on the ground in Africa is a critical aspect of effective action contesting violations of indigenous peoples’ rights. However, the Sengwer are not fighting only for their own sake, nor only for their rights to remain in the forest and protect their economic subsistence.