The Yiaku Laikipiak Trust’s (YLT’s) Lands Protections and Demarcation initiative is dedicated to safeguarding the ancestral lands of the Yiaku people in Laikipia, Kenya. YLT works to secure land rights through formal demarcation and legal recognition, protecting the community from encroachment and land grabbing. This effort is crucial for preserving the cultural heritage and traditional livelihoods of the Yiaku People, ensuring they have sustainable access to their natural resources for future generations.
For the Yiaku Indigenous Community, land is more than just soil, it is a sacred inheritance, a storehouse of memory, living space for the exercise and expression of culture,  and a spiritually binding link to the ancestors. Our identity, languages, and means of livelihood are all tied to the land, precisely, the Mukogodo Forest, which has been the home of the Yiaku people for many a generation.
The Yiaku Laikipiak Trust views land protection and demarcation as critical not only to cultural survival but also to the conservation of the environment, sustainable development, and self-determination. The trust leads efforts across communities to secure ancestral territories from looming threats of encroachment, illegal land sales, exploitation of natural resources, and loss of tenure security.
Our Way of Working
1) Participatory Mapping and Boundary Demarcation
The best custodians of the history and boundaries of the land are those who occupy it. We include elders, youths, traditional leaders, and local experts in the participatory mapping of traditional Yiaku land.
– Sacred grounds, grazing zones, water sources, and ancient settlement areas are all mapped using GPS and GIS technologies.
– Oral histories and indigenous knowledge systems are incorporated to let the maps reflect truths that are cultural as well as geographical.
– Once mapped, our approach is to ensure these boundaries are formally registered in an act with relevant land agencies and authorities.
2) Preventing Encroachment and Illegal Land Use
Encroachment by outsiders, land grabbing, and unauthorized use of forest lands are increasingly threatening our community. The Yiaku Laikipiak Trust undertakes:
– Community education on land rights and legal processes.
– Monitoring patrols that spot and react to illegal cases of tree felling, charcoal burning, and unregulated grazing.
– Reporting and taking legal action alongside government agencies such as the Kenya Forest Service and the Ministry of Lands.
3) Legal Aid and Advocacy for Land Rights
The Trust strives to uphold the indigenous land rights under the Constitution of Kenya and international frameworks such as the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)-
– We offer legal aid and support in documentation to community members who find themselves in land disputes.
– We participate in policy advocacy and engage government agencies and lawmakers in dialog to ensure recognition of customary lands and communal titles.
– We cooperate with human rights and land justice organizations in building support both nationally and internationally.
4) Intergenerational Transfer of Knowledge
Land, beyond ownership, encompasses knowledge, responsibility, and continuity. We encourage:
– Conversations between elders and youth to transfer knowledge about land, trees, boundaries, and sacred places.
– Cultural mapping workshops where youths learn to record and safeguard important locations.
– Storytelling, site visits, and outings within Mukogodo Forest to instill appreciation and a sense of ownership in the younger generation.
Why Land Protection Matters ?
– Cultural Continuity: Yiaku language, ceremonies, and custom are linked to certain landscapes, caves, rivers, and forests.
– Environmental Conservation: Studies show that indigenous land management results in lower rates of deforestation and higher biodiversity.
– Economic Empowerment: Land securities will also enable the community to plan investment programs including eco-tourism and carbon credits.
– Community Autonomy: Without security of land, the Yiaku community is prone to displacement and marginalization.
Successes and Ongoing Work.
✅ Successful mapping and recognition of certain parts of Mukogodo Forest as traditional Yiaku territory.
✅ Training and deployment of community forest scouts to monitor illegal activities.
✅ Cooperation with National Land Commission and local government for boundary demarcation.
✅ Formation of a Community Land Management Committee (CLMC) to oversee land use and to resolve disputes.