Narok: 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.
According to Kenya News Agency, Riamet emphasized the need for indigenous research by indigenous scholars to develop policies that resonate with local communities. He highlighted the limited access to research resources on traditional knowledge systems, which creates 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, gathered policymakers, researchers, indigenous professors, and development partners. Discussions centered on policies supporting indigenous-led research and education, access to biodiversity and climate finance, media's role 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. He advocated for transforming African villages through research and education, highlighting the anthropological EMIC approach that begins research in the village for community development.
The conference also spotlighted long-established indigenous organizations like KIPUK NGO, which has conducted research on animals, birds, wildlife, and cattle since 1995 in Oleporos-Ololulunga. This organization serves as a model of how indigenous research can contribute to conservation, education, politics, and capacity building.
Simon Kirempe, a researcher in the Mau Complex, argued that conservation efforts cannot succeed without indigenous knowledge. He called for grassroots-driven solutions that policymakers can adopt, particularly in politically contested areas like the Mau.
Dr. Daniel Naikuni, a senior lecturer at Maasai Mara University, urged researchers to align their work with policymaking to provide problem-solving insights relevant to indigenous communities and government levels in Kenya.
The government has prioritized safeguarding minorities and marginalized communities through a newly established unit in the executive office of the president. Lowoi Lodeya, Secretary for Minorities and Marginalized Affairs, pointed to constitutional provisions that protect minority communities and the development of intervention policies.
On the global research stage, Prof. Koisaba Ben, a Kenyan academician and adjunct professor in the United States, challenged Kenyan scholars to be proactive in seeking grants. He noted the lack of submissions from Kenyan academics for international grants and encouraged them to pursue these funding opportunities for scholarly work.
The 4th PACT conference served as a networking platform, 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.