MAASAI DEVELOPMENT FORUM MANIFESTO

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Maasai Development ForumInformation Memorandum

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MAASAI DEVELOPMENT FORUM.(M.D.F)

Sustainable local development

One of the most complex and difficult issues facing the indigenous peoples on our planet

is how, or indeed whether or not to reconcile their traditional life-style with what can be

considered true sustainable local development. All too often, our vision of sustainable

local development is culturally clouded by Western concepts of progress, but doesn’t fail

to take the issues and the wisdom of local traditions on board. sadly, many indigenous

peoples are buying into so-called “modernity”, to the detriment of their traditional

practice. And the combination of outside exploitation of mineral and land resources,

human greed, climate change and loss of biodiversity and of the natural balance of

traditional ecosystems all add up to a kind of local development that is ultimately

anything but sustainable.

But education can be seen as part of the way forward. This article tries to tell some of the

story of the Maasai population, keeping livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and

donkeys .A traditional society based on a harmonious balance between men, women and

nature: a little background information

Few people are aware of the complex traditional balance of Maasai society. They are

pastoralists, with land that is traditionally a common good. Their territory covers both

Kenya and Tanzania. Their society is based on traditions that are transmitted from one

age group to another. It has an open-minded, humanist basis, with a structured profound

spiritual wisdom, knowledge of medical virtues of plants and trees, and a social practice

anchored in honor, loyalty, sharing and respect. Their society is also based on the wisdom

of mediation and conflict resolution rather than aggression.

Their pastoral practice is anchored on a deep historical knowledge of their land and the

alternating dry and rainy seasons. It used to include cohabitation with wildlife, and a

naturally balanced difference between the way that cows graze (they eat the long

grasses), and other animals that eat only the shorter grass and browse the acacias trees



and other plants. Drought is not a new phenomenon in these regions, but the historic

access to highland pastures alternating with grazing the steppe in the plains used to

mean that ecosystems and cattle survived. Contrary to the loudly expressed opinions of

many so-called development agencies, the Maasai never destroyed the land. Quite the

opposite: their rotating grazing systems were a mighty factor of preservation! Until very

recently they were a wealthy people, with herds of many thousands of heads of cattle,

even though they do not necessarily attach much traditional importance to money per se

as they have always used a barter system and paid livestock for dowry and peacemaking.

HUMAN RIGHTS/ANIMAL RIGHTS

Land reform, land-grabbing and the violation of human and animal rights

Colonial and post-colonial land reform frequently granted private land rights to both

natural wildlife reserves and parks (to be used to exploit tourism), and introduced

Western style cattle ranching on the best lands that were allocated to both black and

white elites.

The Maasai have progressively become marginalized and dispossessed of their lands.

They have been excluded from their traditional grazing lands such as the Mara (now the

famous Maasai Mara game park in Kenya), and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. For a

people to whom land is a communal territory containing resources, rather than a resource

to be appropriated by individuals, (or the State) the above are totally at odds with the

way in which traditional Maasai have always governed by social and political conventions

designed to reduce the risk of unpredictable climate and semi-arid conditions. The

balance of culture and nature enabled the Maasai to live in harmony with other creatures

on their lands.

An example of one of many land-grabs is illustrated by one of several incidents that took

place in 2009 (previous similar incidents took place in 2006). Non-pastoralist communities

massively evicted pastoralists in Tanzania from their traditional lands with governmental



support and collusion. They introduced modern intensive cattle ranches aimed at

exporting meat. Farmers entered land that was not theirs, gained deeds to the land, and

started to farm. The government supported them, stating that the Maasai were

uneducated and poor. Cows were impounded and died of hunger and thirst. There were

physical fights over land, and even deaths. Maasai homes were burnt. Access to water for

grazing became a serious issue. Cows were rounded up, and the Maasai had to pay

30,000 Tanzanian shillings (about 18 Euros) a head as a fine for “damaging the

environment” and 1,500,0000TZS (880Euros) to put them into trucks that they had to

rent (a further expense) to remove them from the “camps”. During the evictions,

traditional leaders and the Maasai Bishop Jacob Mameo of ELCT Morogoro diocese went

from village to village, organizing traditional meetings to organize advocacy. The evicted

nomadic pastoralists informed members of the parliaments, the European Union, the

United Nations, the African Commission on Human & Peoples’ Rights and Local

governments of great violation of human and animal rights, but the impact of this

information has yet to be felt on the ground.

From considerable wealth (their cows) the Maasai were quickly reduced to a destitute

community: typically, people went from owning from 300 cows to nothing overnight.

Children were out of school, with parents who could no longer afford to pay the school

fees. This was of course not only unconstitutional, but also a violation of the United

Nations Declaration of Indigenous People’s Rights, Human Rights and also animal rights…

The Prime Minister created a commission in 2007, but over two years later, the report still

has not been published. The government position has remained one of prioritizing foreign

investment in land and tourism… The regions of Arusha, Rukwa, Morogoro and Mbeya

have been the most affected. A population of 10,000 pastoralists have lost more than

300,000 livestock. The affected families have been left by the government to die of

hunger and disease



Fighting against all odds

The Maasai Development Forum was founded by the community as an informal CBO. It

uses traditional Maasai leadership as a natural form of governance. In 2008 it became a

formal structure to enable it to receive outside funding for local projects. It continues to

do much successful work at international level in terms of advocacy and defending

Maasai and pastoralists’ rights as well as providing basic needs for the maasai people in

times of disasters like drought and famine where relief food, medication and water is

needed. Maasai Development Forum is desperate in need of membership in the

international platform establishments that defend indigenous peoples’, pastoralists’ and

traditional hunter-gatherers’ rights.

EDUCATION

The heart of the village project would be a well founded church, a dispensary, primary

schools, secondary schools, politechniques and adult learning centers. This will not only

create a platform for Maasai children to get quality education, but it will also enable the

maasai generations to understand their changing environment, preserve the culture and

improve their livelihoods. By having these important facilities available within the reach of

villages, means other sustainable modes of livelihood can easily be introduced to the

entire community, rather than moving their animals from one area to the other for

example, the Maasai community can be taught on how to till the land and grow crops,

high yielding animals also can be introduced to the farmers to encourage them keep few

animals with high returns.

As the article says, Maasai communities today are facing multiple challenges: human

rights issues, climate change, land grabbing, economic survival and the inevitable

migration not to new pastures and grasslands but towards the major cities and tourist

resorts, with all that this implies. Whatever the future impacts of government policy or

climate change on the pastoralist community, the emphasis in Maasai Development



Forum is on education, both through the modern school system and Maasai traditions

that are part of this project. It is an important element that will help these young people

to preserve their identity and face whatever the future holds in store.

URGENT CURRENT PROJECT----DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Food Relief Urgent for Kenya's Drought-Stricken Pastoralist Communities Thousands of

Maasai have been braving strong winds and stinging dust at the Seuseu center in

Oloshoibor, a community in the Ngong Hills, Kenya, to receive drought relief food for the

last five months.

Distributed by the Maasai Development Forum (MDF) at both Oloigeruno

villages,enkutoto,osero lempere,olomorooj and another community center in Olmaroroi

approximately 9000 people are at risk of starvation and urgently need relief food, water

and medication.

The FIVE-month drought, famine and hunger has already claimed the lives of 10 people in

this tight-knit community, along with thousands of livestock, including donkeys, goats,

sheep, dogs and cattle.

"This drought, it has made all people poor in this community," said John Mopel during an

interview at Osarara. "When livestock have problems, families have problems—and that

means those children that are lucky to be in school are sent home from school because

they can’t study without eating, families can’t pay for anything, not school fees, not for

food, not for uniforms not for books and schools have to be closed down."

A majority of those affected were women and children, who bear much of the burden

caused by the lack of rain. Some women had walk for more than four hours to Naroosura

whenever MDF has some food to deliver for them to pick up their share of the relief

goods, these, they have to carry it on their backs for the return trip.

"Now that the cows are so thin, men cannot sell them. Many of the men have migrated

with the cows to the neighboring countries," mama nashipae explained in an interview.

"That leaves the women responsible for taking care of the children without help," she

said.



In addition to her typical duties of cooking, cleaning, and fetching water and firewood,

Nashipae is forced to make and sell charcoal to feed her extended family. But even that is

becoming difficult because the government has put to a stop any forest destruction and

these maasai women now have no other means of survival.

"Relief food has really helped the people live [through the drought]."Nashipae told us.

Even though Joyce Tunta is thankful for the relief food, she said it is not enough. The two

cups of cooking oil and 5kgs of maize flour she received will only last for two days. Tunta

is a widow responsible for a family of nine.

MDF receives funding for the food distribution through local government, well wishers,

individual donors and students of Montreal university. this year, MDF has not received any

donations apart from the 100bags of maize it received from the Kenya Cereals Board

which was only fed to 3 village in 4days.

The current drought has negatively affected many communities, but pastoralists, who

depend on their livestock for their livelihoods, have been among those hardest hit.

Seventy percent of Kenya’s lands are occupied by pastoral communities.

"As we receive help, let us remember that God has given us the ability to change our

current situation, through handwork, unity, determination and prayers. That way, we are

guaranteed a possibility to help ourselves someday."Kenny Ole Sankale addressing a

maasai gathering in a relief

distribution village”.

Maasai Development Forum(Relief

food fund)

I’ve been hungry, but I’ve never

been starving. I’ve never been so

desperate that I picked up individual

pieces of spilled dried corn and

beans out of the dusty ground. I’ve never held out a plastic container and begged for



“just a cup” of corn. You probably haven’t either. But as food was distributed at the

Baptist church in Maralal, Kenya and greed overtook some people who grabbed and

pushed, others sat in the dirt with their plastic cups and bags and winnowed the remains

in the hopes that it might be enough to make a meal.

I couldn’t see how such a little amount could make a difference to anyone, but I suppose

that is the difference between want and need. I beginning to believe there is a certain

psychology accompanying extreme hunger that affects people in a way that most of us

will never understand. In the Maasai District in Rift valley Kenya, we have not seen a drop

of rain fall for over 4 months. If drought persists, conditions will worsen. As grasslands

dry up there is no pasture for livestock. Cows no longer provide milk which is vital as a

source of food and also money to buy other food staples like flour, tea and sugar. This is

the life of the pastoralist. The water holes where women walk daily have become little

more than cracked and dried depressions of dirt. They now must walk much further and

in some areas must wait for elephants for to have their fill before they dare draw their

own daily supply.

Many Maasai are having a difficult

time these days; some more than

others. While some are still able to

walk and wait and survive on a

little, others are in real danger.

most of them are sick with

HIV/AIDS, elderly, widowed,

orphaned. These are the ones we

sought out as we gave food

provided by Baptist Global

Response.



Over a period of 4 days, we were able to give beans, dried corn and fat. Each person

received enough food to get them through the last month. Purchasing goods and

transport through local vendors with whom we have relationship allowed us to provide

adequate nutrition for one month. Living and working in the area allows us to utilize local

pastors, church members and community leaders who will work for free to distribute

food honestly and with fairness. At the same time, we are demonstrating the incarnate

love of Christ as we give to the “least of these”.

Thank you for your prayers and support of our work, our ministry and the Maasai people

of Kenya. Continue to pray for rain.

All her people groan as they search for bread;they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive...

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord;Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven."

-Lamentations 1:11; 3:40-41 (NIV)



Pray for pastoralists who are watching their animals and their livelihoods die. Pray for

those advising “



Pray for good health and quality medical care for those who have no access to clean

water due to drought or floods. Pray for those with no or little income as the costs of

food rise due to the drought and failed crops in flooded areas. Continue praying for those

planning relief efforts. Pray that government officials will truly look beyond their

differences and respond speedily to the needs of their people. Pray for wisdom and

strength as they plan and deliver food – there are limited resources and choosing the

most needy recipients and getting the food is often difficult. Pray that through all of this,

God’s children will be strong ambassadors of His love and salvation as they relate to those

who are physically and spiritually hungry and thirsty,



I know my heavenly Father loves the little goat-minder, the potato seller, and even the

baby lamb. I know he expects those of us who are receiving His love to also care about

those who are suffering. He wants us searching for the hungry, thirsty and lost. He wants

us to minister to them – meeting their physical, mental and emotional needs, especially

their spiritual needs. Please continue praying for rain in Kenya and that the suffering from

drought will soon end. Pray that the leaders of the country will end their political

wrangling and focus on meeting the needs of their people. Pray especially that God’s

children will find ways to share His love with those who are suffering in Kenya and in

other parts of our world.



"Winnowing the Remains-Praying for the Maasai" From Emily and Chris, volunteers

workers with the Maasai People:

“I’ve been hungry, but I’ve never been starving. I’ve never been so desperate that I

picked up individual pieces of spilled dried corn and beans out of the dusty ground.



I’ve never held out a plastic container and begged for “just a cup” of corn. You probably

haven’t either … for more of how Emily and Chris, volunteers workers, provided food and

a demonstrations of the incarnate love to starving maasai.



- As I photographed the opening prayer of a she said:

“I know there are hungry children in Africa, but…” (her words) later returned to me …

during a prayer time : “How often do I recognize a problem of people suffering and add a

‘but’ before I move on to another concern?” … Please join me in praying for the hungry

children of Kenya and of our world. Pray that they will get adequate housing, clothes,

education, security and medical care. Pray that Christians in their midst will respond also

to their spiritual hunger and be active and nurturing ambassadors of their Father’s love

and salvation. For the rest of this posting and an incredible illustration our Savior’s words,

“For I was hungry and you gave me

“The river was a babbling brook, not the customary mighty torrent. It could not begin



to quench the thirst of the people, animals and fields along its way as it meandered to

Eastern Province, just as it had left behind barren land and thirsty and hungry people in

the Central Province.” A perfect introductory sentence to my next prayer item on famine

… Then it happened. We spotted people running with empty bags. Seconds later, women

and men carrying filled sacks or with gathered shirts and skirts holding something walked

past the runners in the opposite direction. Then people appeared hauling damaged bags

on their backs, heads, shoulders, bicycles, or between two sets of arms. A trail of corn

kernels marked their paths. This is just but a mention of the many stories showing the

desperation of those facing famine,

Pray for Those Ministering to the Hungry and

As you pray for those facing starvation, pray also for those who are responding to their

needs. These men and women are facing physical, emotional, and spiritual battles. Pray

that they will have exceptional strength in all these areas … Praise God for how Kenyans

are responding to the needs of their brothers and sisters. Praise God for a renewed desire

of Kenyan Christians to obey their Savior and feed the hungry and give something to drink

to the thirsty (Matthew 25:31-46). Praise God for their deeper commitment to prayer.

“Cows are dying and many, many people are very hungry” From the Maasai Team: “Cows

are dying in Maasai area and many, many people are very hungry… we have close to 200

pastors gathering and counting names of the ‘poorest of the poor’ in all areas of Maasai-



land in Kenya …, currently estimating about 180,000 people to receive food Please pray

for God's will to be made known in this matter … pray with us for rain… From

the Maasai Team: “We plan to do a feeding project this month. Pray that the food will go

miraculously far … Pray that it will not only make an impact in people's physical lives, but

in their spiritual life, as well.”

… pray for the estimated 10.6 million Kenyans, a third of all Kenyans, who are hungry and

thirsty. Praise God for His servants who are responding to the needs of those facing

famine … Pray for wisdom, sensitivity and strength for all those planning relief efforts.

Pray also that ministering Christians will be strong ambassadors of their Father’s love and

salvation to all those “who live on earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people”

(Revelation 14:6).

Pray for courage, boldness and protection for Kenyans who are asking questions and

seeking change that benefits all Kenyans and not just an elite few. Praise God for those

who are finding ways to respond to the famine such as the milk company ... advertising

“Highly discounted prices on … to support famine relief” and provide nourishment for

“Kenyan child(ren) on the brink of losing hope.” Pray for churches that are seeking the

best ways to minister in the name of their Father.

Many children are too weak to attend school. Others are out of school as they search for

or raise money to buy food. Pray for an end to the problems of distribution (of foods) …

some children are not dying because of the lack of food but because of eating things that

are “unfit for human consumption” such as deadly cactus. Pray that long-lasting solutions



will be found that will end the suffering caused by continuing droughts.

(Pray) that the Kenyan government will meet the needs of all her citizens, not just a few

who desire personal riches and power … (pray) for brighter futures for the poor of Kenya

– especially that they will come to know and fully claim our Savior’s love and joy

Pray that the assessments will be speedy and reveal the greatest needs and the best ways

to respond … Pray … that people will have the means to clean water or be able to purify

available water



… Pray that farmers … will not be exploited by others … Pray for … the increased higher

prices that results from drought … Pray that additional deaths and hurt will not occur due

to the resulting tensions … pray for an end to their spiritual “drought” as you pray for an

end to the physical drought … pray for the individual persons facing starvation, especially

that each one will come to know and depend upon our Savior, the Bread of Life (John

6:35) Pray that additional problems such as this bird invasion … will not lead to

“worsening an already fragile food security”

My intention and my prayer is that as you read the specifics of Kenya’s current problems,

you will not only pray for Kenya, but you will be able to come in and give a helping hand,

better able to pray with all your heart, mind and soul for other places in our world

experiencing the same problems … Pray for good health for the affected children –

children will be the first to die due to the lack of proper food … Pray also for the

sanitation situation – many … die due to … the diseases that occur when there is little or

no water … Pray that war, corruption and bad decisions do not compound the hunger

problems. Pray for those accustomed to only eating certain foods … Pray that Christians

among those bringing help to the areas will be bold witnesses of their Father’s love and

salvation.



Our world that faces another hunger – they do not know of our Father’s love and

salvation. Pray for these people where schooling is not an option as parents are joined by

“young children … in their daily search for means of livelihood” ... These people need a

miracle – They need water and food … available food items to be priced fairly … animals

to stay healthy so they can sell them for good prices … a break from locusts invasions

which worsens the availability of food for the people and animals … quick response by

government and aid agencies – They need the few Christians in the area to be bold

witnesses of our Father’s love and salvation!

Kenya and Kenyan Baptists need your prayers and I want you praying specifically and purposefully

because our heavenly Father hears our prayers and He responds… I also send prayer items to

educate you … My goal is to open your eyes, ears and hearts so that when you hear future bits of

news and information about Kenya and other places, your prayer tool box will be ready – You will

know how to pray when needed without detailed directions.



Join me in praying that those who can bring about positive change in Kenya will allow God’s Word to

direct their “soul and spirit … thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Pray that the Christians in

leadership will be bold servants and ambassadors of their Savior’s peace, love and salvation. Pray

that Kenyans will receive the needed physical and spiritual nourishment. Pray that Kenya will

become a nation who truly worship, obey and serve only our heavenly Father and be a witness to

their neighbors of God’s love and salvation.

As you pray for food, water, medical care, etc, for those facing starvation, pray that

government leaders will make wise decisions … Pray that the decisions/plans will not be to the

benefit of a few who desire to profit from the problems of others in the country. Pray that

Christians who are affected by the drought and those ministering to them will be bold



ambassadors of their heavenly Father, the one they depend upon for not just their daily

bread, but for love and salvation.”

Pray for all those…facing drought and hunger…that not only will government and aid

organizations bring physical food, but the Christians among them will bring spiritual food …

Pray for the children who will have to delay schooling due to the drought ... pray also that the

farmers will be prepared for the next growing season and not become deeper in debt due to

the increased food prices and purchase of seeds. Pray that through all of this, the Christians in

these areas will be strong ambassadors of their Father’s love, peace and those who are

“unreached will be reached by our Savior’s love and salvation.



FEEDING PROGRAMME FOR 7M0NTHS.(6000 people)

Maasai Development Forum is laying emphasis towards permanent food security

among the pastoralists and nomadic communities, this could be a more worthy project

rather than relying on handouts and donations, but this is a long term project than needs

to be implemented in phases with a bigger budget and reliable funding.

As for now, people are dying every day, not because of malaria, AIDS or road accidents,

but because of starvation. It is shameful in a world where others bounce in luxury, and

calls for urgency, we are doing our best to feed the starving families at least for

7months,hopefully the rains will fall and then we can start educating them on how to till

land and get themselves food on their tables on a long-term basis.

Blessed is the hand that gives than the hand that receives.

If you are reading this, am sure there is something you can do, we need your best shot in

this, May God give you the ability to see and act towards helping the suffering brothers

and sisters out there. Remember, a ready plate of food only costs approximately

2dollars.If a million people buy a plate each, how many plates shall we have?

Much regards and God’s protection from the Maasai people, Kenny N.Ole Sankale(C.E.O

and Maasai Cultural Ambassador MDF).Bahati Wanja S.(Director MDF) and Edwin Kasaine

(Legal Adviser MDF).

_______________

GOD BLESS YOU

_______________


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