Exploring Livelihood Opportunities for Economic Transformation Among the Ogiek, an Indigenous Community in Mt. Elgon, Kenya

ABSTRACT This study identifies community‐prioritized livelihood pathways that can support economic transformation among the Ogiek of Mt. Elgon, Kenya. Using participatory focus group discussions ( n = 30) and the SLOPIC facilitation tool within the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), participants ranked and evaluated potential ventures against economic, environmental, and cultural criteria. We find that dairy production and apiculture present the strongest, culturally appropriate pathways for income generation and value addition, but systemic constraints, mainly insecure land tenure, weak market linkages, and limited processing infrastructure, limit scalability. The paper's contribution is threefold: (1) it provides a validated, community‐prioritized model for selecting livelihood options in a conservation context; (2) it empirically links SLF capitals to livelihood prioritization among an under‐studied indigenous group; and (3) it highlights governance trade‐offs between conservation and economic inclusion. Policy implications and a research agenda for longitudinal and mixed‐methods evaluation are outlined.