Community Dialogue with Waata Community of Marsabit County
Bio-cultural community protocols are a methodology of documenting traditional knowledge. IPLCs face
many challenges, social marginalization based on culture and language being the most prominent.
They often struggle for recognition of their status and rights. The Waata community of Marsabit
county, Kenya are a good example of this. Indigenous Information Network went to Marsabit
county to guide the community in developing their bio-cultural protocol which later aid in
negotiations with governments, private sector for fair and equitable benefit sharing. The meeting
included all groups of the Waata community; women, youth and the elderly from various sub
counties such as Sololo, North Horr and Moyale.