is a non-profit, Community-Based NGO registered in Kenya that promotes Human Rights, social Justice, the Environment, Climate Change, and Local-Level Development.
About ILEPA
Indigenous Livelihoods Enhancement Partners (ILEPA) is a non-profit community-based non-governmental organization based in Kenya with its operations concentrated in Narok County in the southern part of the country. The Organization started off as a human rights outfit with a special focus on land rights, but its scope later expanded to cover environment and climate change, health and development, research, and livelihoods support. The primary target of ILEPA is the Maasai pastoral community in Narok County.
The abbreviated name of the organization – ILEPA – carries a significant meaning in Maa (the language of the Maasai people). The Maa word Ilepa loosely translated to “arise” or “ascend”. Ilepa is a call to significance. It thus aptly captures the spirit of what the organization stands for – ILEPA exists to ensure indigenous people prosper and live a life of significance.
Vision
A just and prosperous Indigenous Peoples’ Society
Mission
Our mission is to promote Indigenous People’s sustained self-determined development and recognition and respect of their Human Rights for enhanced well-being.
Our Core Values
Integrity
Dignity and Respect
Community Centered
Professionalism
Open to Learning
Partnership and Collaboration
Social Justice and Diversity
Brief History
The history of ILEPA is embedded in the history of the land rights struggle of Enkare Nairowua (Maji Moto) Group Ranch in Narok South. At the heart of the struggle was the need to secure land rights for the Maasai community who were at risk of losing over 700 acres of land. The founders of ILEPA, who were all members of the Group Ranch, came to represent the face of the struggle, leading in advocacy efforts under the banner Touch of Love Integrated Development Programme (TOLIDP).
The Programme become the point of connection between the Group Ranch activities related to the land rights struggle and other social and institutional networks outside of the Group Ranch.
Subsequently, the mandate of TOLIDP (later renamed to ILEPA) expanded in both geographical area, to cover the entire Narok County, and scope of issues to include other pre-existing environmental, social and development challenges which were of immediate concern to the local pastoralist community. These included health, education, governance and citizen participation, food security, research and climate change. It is worth noting that ILEPA now actively participates in national and international processes in the context of the organization’s thematic areas of focus.
