By Daphne Matziaraki and Peter Murimi

The Battle for Laikipia

Kenya’s Laikipia region has been a grazing route for indigenous pastoralist communities for centuries. It is also home to white ranchers and conservationists, who settled there during the British colonial era and stayed on after Kenya’s independence in 1963. Since 2017, we have intimately filmed our characters as they confront a rapidly changing world. Laikipia has been feeling the ravaging effects of climate change for decades; the pastoralists, the ranchers and conservancies all rely on Laikipia’s grasslands to sustain their cattle and the wildlife. When drought and elections collide, conflict erupts. Our story goes beyond the headline-grabbing conflict. We explore identity, the complicated legacy of British colonialism, and their intersection with climate change – all this happening during the most fragile moment of our planet.

Section : Impact Days

Country : Kenya

Original languages : English, Swahili, Samburu

Directors

Daphne Matziaraki (Greece)
Peter Murimi (Kenya)

Producers

Toni Kamau (Kenya)
Daphne Matziaraki (Greece)
We Are Not The Machine Ltd
One Story Up

Completion

January 2024

Impact Statement

Through closely following people from the Samburu pastoral community and white Kenyan ranchers and conservationists who rely on the grasslands of Laikipia for their livelihoods, we can clearly illustrate how the climate crisis and its intersection with an unresolved colonial history and politics exacerbate resource conflict in the region. We intend to collaborate with stakeholders working at the intersection of indigenous cultures, climate change resilience and conservation to develop resources and host community screenings and discussions around resource management, policy and indigenous land rights and conservation. We hope these conversations will safeguard the futures of all the people who call this place home.

We intend to collaborate with stakeholders working at the intersection of indigenous cultures, climate change resilience and conservation. Our goal is for the film to create meaningful debate about how more countries and institutions can move towards more inclusive conservation practices.

Impact Goals

Create space for open, inclusive dialogue and mediation between pastoralist communities and conservations in areas with increased tension over diminishing resources impacted by the climate crisis.
Advocate for centering and including indigenous voices when developing climate change adaptation policies.
Collaborate with stakeholders advocating for policy change that contributes towards resource management, pastoral grazing rights and inclusive conservation practices.

Impact Strategy

Edit a companion 5-7 minute online video for distribution on a major global news partner.
Repurpose the film into a 52-minute dubbed documentary.
Create resources - a discussion guide, educational material, and a reading list on inclusive conservation.
Use the film as a tool for advocating for policy change around pasture management policies and climate change adaptation.
Collaborate with organisations carrying out mediation in resource conflict areas.
Safety and security for key characters.
Facilitate participation of our characters in events for advocacy around critical issues.
Support for an interactive website and social media strategy that acts as a call to action.

Contact

Primary contact

Toni Kamau (Kenya): toni@wearenotthemachine.com

Existing Partners

Funders and agencies
Berkeley Film Foundation
Bertha Foundation
Climate Story Fund
Code Blue Foundation
Doc Society
Docubox
Ford Foundation
Greek Film Centre
Greek Ministry Of Culture
Justfilms
New York Times
Op Doc
Our Children’s Earth Foundation
Pulitzer Center On Crisis Reporting
Shannon O’ Leary Joy
Sundance Institute
Threshold Foundation
Wild Lives Foundation

Envisaged Partners