Ogiek - flora and fauna

The Ogiek people, often called the "caretakers of the forest," have a profound connection to the Mau Forest. Their name itself—Ogiek—translates to "caretaker of all flora and fauna."

​Below are 25 examples of the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) they traditionally use for food and medicine.

​Flora: Medicinal & Nutritional Plants

​The Ogiek use a variety of indigenous trees and herbs, often boiling the bark, roots, or leaves to create curative tonics or food supplements.

Common/Scientific Name Local Name (Ogiek) Use & Application

Dombeya (Dombeya goetzeni) Dobea Essential for beekeeping; bees prefer its nectar to produce high-quality honey used for food and healing.

African Olive (Olea africana) Emit Used as a spiritual plant; berries are eaten, and wood is used for cleaning milk gourds.

Kenyan Cedar (Juniperus procera) Tarakuet The bark and wood are used for making traditional log beehives and for medicinal smoke.

African Cherry (Prunus africana) Muiri The bark is famously used to treat prostate issues and chest complaints.

Tuberous Root Sumeto A squat-shaped root that is boiled in water and drunk as a general medicinal tonic.

Wild Fig (Ficus thonningii) Mugumo Sacred tree; used in ceremonies and the sap/bark can be used for various skin ailments.

Real Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius) Saptet One of the most frequently mentioned medicinal trees for general health.

Wild Greens (Solanum nigrum) Managu A staple wild vegetable rich in iron and vitamins.

African Amaranth (Amaranthus graecizans) Pichpich Wild-harvested leafy green used for nutrition.

Toddalia (Toddalia asiatica) Narubat Roots are boiled to treat tuberculosis, coughs, and pneumonia.

Soapberry (Schefflera abyssinica) Chelumbut Resin is mixed with honey for chest problems; bark is used as an aphrodisiac and vitality restorer.

Climbing Milkweed (Periploca linearifolia) Senendet Roots are cooked in mutton soup for vitality; leaves are used to treat wounds and herpes.

Wild Asparagus (Asparagus racemosus) Kisisitiet Roots are cooked in soup as an immune booster.

Common Carissa (Carissa spinarum) Loketetwo Roots and leaves are boiled to treat malaria.

Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Roluwo Bark and roots are used to treat an enlarged spleen and liver.

East African Greenheart (Warburgia ugandensis) Soget The bark is widely used for stomach aches, malaria, and general pain. 

Red Thorn (Acacia lahai) Chepindorwet Used for respiratory ailments and general healing.

Butterfly Pea Kurpanyat Boiled with bone soup for nutritional and medicinal strength.

Wild Herb Nukiat Used in traditional herbal preparations for various infections.

Mallow Segetetik Collected and used for digestive health.

Fauna: Wild Game & Insects

​While the Ogiek are shifting toward sedentary lives, their traditional diet was heavily reliant on selective hunting and gathering.

​21. African Honey Bee (Apis mellifera monticola): The most vital "fauna." They produce honey, which is the staple food, trade currency, and medicine (used to dress wounds and soothe throats).

​22. Tree Hyrax: Traditionally hunted for meat; their skins were also used to make warm clothing for the cold forest environment.

​23. Forest Antelope (Bushbuck/Duiker): A primary source of protein; the meat was often preserved using honey.

​24. Giant Forest Hog: Hunted selectively for food during specific seasons.

​25. Honeyguide (Bird): While not "eaten" as food, this bird is a crucial faunal partner; the Ogiek follow its call to find wild bee nests in the ground or high trees.

​A Note on Honey

​For the Ogiek, honey is not just food; it is a preservative for meat, a sweetener for bitter herbal medicines, and the base for traditional mead (rotikap gomek) used in every major life ceremony.

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