Munyoyaya
Generally classified under the larger Coastal Swahili, the Munyoyaya has faced and continue to face discrimination from both the state and non-state actors in Kenya. They are for instance referred to as “Korokoro” by their neighboring communities, a derogatory term meaning jail. (Those who live in jail). Such practices have not only disrupted their way of life which is seen as primitive and backwards but continue to endanger the development of their language.
The current policies, which seem to favor industrial agriculture and aquaculture at the expense of the locals’ livelihoods presents a bleak future for the indigenous peoples sustainable development. The Munyoyaya community in particular has a long history of land dispossession that continues to this day, which happens in the name of agriculture and development. It also happens because policy makers see their livelihoods as being primitive and environmentally degrading. These policies make it very hard for indigenous peoples to have a direct involvement on the projects that are being carried out on their lands by the government and other private investors. They are rarely consulted and in cases of such consultations, there is limited participation of community members during the planning, decision-making and implementation phase. This leaves them with no room to air their views and concerns regarding projects that directly affect them. This is a breach of human rights standards and a violation of their right to existence as provided for by the Kenyan Constitution which mandates the state organs and all public officers to address the needs of vulnerable groups within society, including women, members of minority or marginalized communities and members of particular ethnic, religious or cultural communities.