Traditional Decision-Making in Evaluation: Stephen LELEI – Kware Village

Stephen LELEI was born in 1982 in Quarry Village (which has been localised as Kware Village) in Mariashoni Location of Elburgon Area in Nakuru County. Stephen is a bee-keeper and a small-scale farmer as well. He manages Mariashoni Community Development Program (MACODEP), a local CBO that buys honey from the local community and hence enhancing their income with regards to their honey business. The Ogiek community, as described by Stephen Lelei, has a traditional approach to evaluating and determining project effectiveness that is deeply rooted in their cultural practices and elder-led decision-making process. When considering new projects, the community primarily focuses on the potential benefits and impact on their lives. They assess whether the project will provide employment opportunities for their youth, preserve their cultural heritage, and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. The elders play a crucial role in this evaluation process, using their wisdom and experience to guide decisions on project implementation and location. However, the community faces challenges in project evaluation due to lack of representation in government and NGOs, which often leads to projects being started without proper follow-through or community involvement. To address this, the Ogiek have established a Council of Elders, comprising trusted representatives from each clan, to serve as a central point of contact for all incoming projects and to ensure that the community's interests are protected in the evaluation and implementation processes. EvalIndigenous project, Kenya, led by Dr Awuor Ponge.