Aweer Community
Home / Communities / Aweer Community / Community Profile
Land Tenure:
Land tenure issues have been an issue in the Aweer community. The land is currently registered on government land which means that the community has no rights over it despite them being the custodians of that forest for a long time. According to members of the community, getting a tittle for the community land thus is important so that they can defend their land rights as a community.
Recognition by government as a tribe:
Currently, the Aweer are recognized as part of the Abaluyia community in Boni.
Poor infrastructure:
Due to marginalization in social and economic spheres which has affected their access to roads, electricity, water and hospitals.
Human wildlife conflict:
The Buffaloes in Boni Forest cause a major destruction to the homes in the Boni Forest. Apart from that they affect women.
Illegal logging:
Well-connected people are involved in logging in the forest and despite their engagement.
Documentation of culture:
In Aweer Culture has suffered from non-documentation and this has led to a situation where their culture is being slowly eroded.
Insecurity:
The Al Shabaab have infiltrated the Boni Forest where the Aweer people live and this has caused members of the community to move out of the forest therefore losing their area of settlement. Their economic activities e.g. bee keeping have also been affected.
High unemployment levels:
There's high unemployment levels within the community.
The impact of COVID- 19:
Corona virus has affected many aspects of their lives including livelihoods. Most have not been able to work because of lock downs.
High poverty levels:
High poverty levels that have affected access to education.
Discrimination:
Discrimination interacting with the country government.
Unfriendly policies:
Unfriendly policies since hunting and gathering has been prohibited by the Kenya Forest Service they are forced to resort to other methods of survival e.g. bee keeping.
Natural disasters:
Natural Disasters e.g. locust invasion has also affected their ability to get access to food.
Water problems:
Water problems in the areas occupied by the Aweer including Pandanguo. They mainly depend on boreholes and sometimes the water is salty. The Lamu County government has tried to supply them with water but it is not enough.
Education:
Access to education is one of the major challenges facing the Aweer people. Part of it is caused by high poverty levels as well as the negative impact of COVID-19 that has made the situation worse. Al Shabaab extremists within the region are discouraging teachers not to go to the region leaving young people in Aweer in a state of perpetual of illiteracy. This continues the cycle of poverty among them.
Lack of political representation:
Bargaining power in Kenya is partly influenced by communities that are well represented in the national government. Since the Aweer people have not been elected in national main politics, their ability to advocate for themselves has been hindered by this fact and consequently, they have been left out in terms of development.
Absence of news coverage for the people of Aweer:
There is minimal solutions of their rights of the Aweer, the major reason being that the media has paid no interest to their issues is very little. This has led to a situation where the Aweer suffer in silence with minimal coming to their aid out of lack of knowledge by the public on their situation.