Samson Letuya Luari

Samson Letuya Luari is an Assistant Project Officer at the Ogiek Peoples Development Program (OPDP). He also coordinates the Ogiek Cultural Centre as the manager. A member of the Ogiek community, he grew up in an environment where traditional survival methods were deeply rooted. Samson is passionate about nature and conservation.

In his family, the land, forests, rivers, and wild animals are vital to their livelihood. These natural components aren’t just resources; they are also considered sacred and hold significant meaning for the Ogiek people. The forest, in particular, serves as a multifaceted resource. It provides herbal medicine, a source of honey, and the opportunity to hunt wild game for meat. Additionally, within the forest, the Ogiek community establishes sacred shrines. The Mau forest, with its abundant bees, flowers, and flowing streams, is a lifeline for the bees. This, in turn, means a livelihood for the Ogiek, as they depend on the bees for honey as a food source and for performing rituals during special occasions.

Furthermore, wild animals such as gazelles, antelopes, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, buffaloes, hyraxes, and others are hunted by the Ogiek for wild game, further emphasising the interconnectedness of the community with their natural surroundings.