In his role at MIKIA Kenya, Saruni works directly with elders, youth and knowledge holders to co-create research that truly reflects Indigenous realities. His focus is on participatory research approaches that honor community voices, safeguard cultural memory, and ensure that Knowledge remains in the hands of the people who own it.

He helps lead initiatives that document Indigenous ecological knowledge, oral histories, cultural practices, and traditional skills using respectful, community-driven methods that value storytelling, lived experience, and intergenerational learning. By combining these narratives with structured data collection and analysis, Saruni supports the production of reports that Indigenous communities can use to influence policy, advocate for their rights, and strengthen cultural continuity.

His work ensures that research at MIKIA Kenya is not extractive but collaborative, centering community priorities, protecting data sovereignty, and reinforcing MIKIA Kenya’s collective responsibility to preserve and revitalize Indigenous Knowledge for future generations.