Reaching Out to the Maasai with ICTs

The Maasai community in Sekenani, Mara Division have a new song on their lips; Community Knowledge Centre. The centre set up in April 2010 in a partnership between AfriAfya and Cisco Systems Inc is now up and running and was officially launched in a colorful ceremony on 1^st October 2010.

The delegation of guests was something to write home about; the Senior Vice President of Cisco Systems Inc, Mr. Howard Charney, Hon Eng. James Rege (MP Karachuonyo) and AfriAfya Chairman, Cisco Systems Inc CSR Manager, Hital Muraj, Dr. Koki Kinagwi (AfriAfya director), the game warden Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the area chief and other government officials from the provincial administration.

The day’s events started with the official opening of the CKC which saw a thrilling interactive session between Howard and the Maasai morans ensue. The traditionally clad morans spoke English with so much ease it was fascinating. Howard could not believe that these youth in such a remote part of Kenya even had Facebook accounts and were active users of the internet. They navigated the computers very well as they showcased their proficiency in the various computer applications. Besides the computers, they are also well versed with other ICT equipment such as digital cameras; as a matter of fact one of the CKC managers, a member of the community was taking pictures through out the ceremony. The interactive session went on for almost 45minutes and it was clear that the chief guest was having trouble cutting short this interesting information exchange.

The guests then moved to the tent where they were entertained with songs and poems by the school children. The energy spewing morans thrilled the crowd with their dances and legendary jumps; the honorable guests joined in the dances which were punctuated by chants which electrified the already charged crowd. By the time the speeches had to be given, it was clear that everyone wanted the entertainment to go on and on.

I could go on and on about the day’s events but the highlight is the nature in which the Maasai community in this region received their new asset with so much pride and regard. Seeing nine of them receive certificates for various computer trainings reinforced the positive scenario that’s already taking root. This flare for ICTs in the rural regions is the road to digital villages and the ripple effect will see an informed and computer literate society. We cannot deny that clearly the CKC is where technology meets tradition.

AfriAfya supports the concept of centres such as this one to become the focal point both for creating and sharing health and development information at community level. This centre will stimulate the convergence of tra­ditional methods of communica­tion with modern ICTs. This enriches the process of creating, repackaging and dispersing infor­mation ‘beyond the computer’. The integration of ICTs and information exchange also seeks to strengthen the capacity of community members to communicate with other communities and to the outside world. This CKC is poised to become a knowledge hub where the community will access relevant and well-packaged information in appropriate media. It will also provide the community with a forum and the tools to exchange their own indigenous knowledge. The local content will be packaged and disseminated to other communities through linkages with other resource centres in AfriAfya’s network, incorporating community newsletters, community radio, audio-visuals, audio and participatory education theatre (PET). 

AfriAfya has over 200 information packages on health and development topics available in our database tailor made for communities which we will share with this community and will continually develop more packages to address their emerging needs. Besides diseases such as diarrhea which is responsible for high infant mortality, there are many other preventable and avoidable diseases that can be kept at bay if the Maasai community is well-informed. Simple health messages that include safe water use, washing of hands and waste management translated into the local language (Maasai) will fill the existing information gap. Other cultural misdoings such as early marriages for young girls, female genital mutilation will also be countered as these girls are denied the right to an education. Using locally developed communication materials, parents and community leaders will be sensitized on the need to take their children to school.

Availing vital information on alternative livelihoods such as simple farming methods and animal husbandry practices will also help the communities get a grip on their threatened livelihoods. This is because the Maasai community is primarily a pastoral community and with the reality of climate change and the effects on the land, they cannot continue to rely solely on animals for their livelihoods but diversify to other activities as well.

We are therefore requesting for donations so that we can get the centre fully operational and provide the communities with the necessary information and capacity building. CISCO Systems Inc donated all the equipment and the solar power equipment to get the centre started and it now up to all of us to help make a difference in the life of everyone who lives in this area.