Diaspora Kenyan

Re-organizing Mukogodo

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Saidimu Ole ngais

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The Kenyan President is once again calling the traders to ensure that they observe humane trade operation rules so that they do not over exploit the already suffering communities.

In times like this, traders are known to hike the basic stuff prices so that they can fetch the highest profit possible. This kind of rip off is common in areas where a few traders monopolize and totally dominate commercial in-flow of the highly demanded food stuff. The locals normally have no alternative than to pay the hiking prices.

In areas like Mukogodo, the “nomadic” people unwillingly, find themselves playing by the retailer’s rules. They would sell their animals at a throw away price since there is no market alternative. A few well organizing throat cutting merchants men and women weekly invade the area forcing the poor frustrated and disorganized Mukogodians to de-value their cattle and other livelihood while they expensively sell them commodities they bring with them from far areas. It is in those local markets you’d see real capitalistic-though-primitive trade in the open market.

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Traders with common interest to earn profit organize to generally lower animal prices and increase commodity prices at the same time. So, when you sell a cow for let’s say, ksh 15.000, you’ll most likely spend the money to buy Unga from the buyer of your cow.. They’ll literally take back the money making you look like a big fool who exchanged his dear cow for Unga. I assure you this is the lowest point a Maasai can sink!

The people of areas like Mukogodo would expect that community trading is promoted as a way of hoping the otherwise cattle keeping society to gradually change life style for survival measures. I know many would argue that the Maasai cattle rearing lifestyle must be kept but you would only win the debate if you provide more land and plant more trees but that is almost impossible? Naturally, It is not impossible if you think that Israel is a successful state after a few years of hard work and land reclamation by a State determined to shape its destiny.

Many of us may be ignoring the reality at hand when the nomadic people are concerned. The truth of the matter is that, keeping cattle in Mukogodo is no more a reliable livelihood. In fact, Mukogodo land is dead long time ago. It cannot support any kind of animal rearing.

People need to be helped by the system to adapt a new survival mechanism. If willing, the government is able to re-open Kenya meat industries and assist in organizing cattle marketing in those areas. Alternatively, camel keeping can be introduced as a better option instead of cows and goats. A governmental micro-loans scheme could finance this shift.

Another very good and rightful suggestion is for the government to buy off Oljogi ranch, Chololo, or any other massive unused lands like Kinyon, Mpala, you name it, and divide it to the Laikipiak people or rightfully said, sell it to all families registered in Mukogodo at governmental subsidized prices. The land transfer should be catered by the government under full supervision by independent land review/reform authorities mandated to oversee land issues in the country.

I would suggest that an acre may cost around ksh 30.000 only. Politics and Politicians must be kept out of the land redistribution to avoid politicizing the land matter more than it should be.

I see our people perishing in the very near future if the Kenyan government does not step in and train the population in re-adjusting and reconsidering their lifestyle. The Laikipiak Maasai sub clans who occupy Mukogodo namely (Il-digiri, Il-ngwesi, Il-momonyot and Leuwaso) also, the neighboring  Samburu and Yaaku, Somalia and Borana  people cannot anymore live under the out dated  system that have proven to be un productive. When you consider what has come out of it after all years of “clinging to old traditions,” then you’ll definitely understand that we need to re-think and re-educated our people. A cow or goat in an already barren Mukogodo is not only environmentally dangerous but also very unproductive.

Mukogodo has repeatedly suffered long spell of drought and famine. This human degeneration must be confronted by the Mukogodo people themselves if anybody will ever hear our cry. We must all stand up and face our government and demand attention. Moreover, we must demand portion of the cake from the tourism industry since we belong to the Maasai community, a well know icon of tourism which is earning Kenya enormous amount of solid foreign currency.

Our image makes Kenya rich but it has ever since robbed us from our pride, dignity and identity! When you slaughter a cow, all members of the society have the right to a portion of meat.

According to the Maasai, the neck meat belongs to the warriors, the back born to the girls, the head is for the elderly while the intestines and the liver (depending on what kind of animal) is given to the mothers.

There can be injustice in meat allocation among the Maasai but at least every member is counted given their rightful portion of meat. Corruption in this kind of meat sharing can cost you dearly no wonder it’s very rare!

Why is the Kenyan tourist industry slaughtering our cow every day and refuse to share the meat that is rightfully entitled to us? Even when we’re the slaughter men?

Is it because we are not asking for  our portion? or is it because we are not counted as members of the Kenyan family?  I would really like to hear what President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga tells the Mukogodo people now that the next elections are due in two years.

Friday, August 14, 2009 2:51 AM PDT

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