Maa leaders call for preservation of Kenyan cultures

Leaders from the Maa community have called for preservation of Kenyan cultures to preserve the country's heritage.  

The leaders said their practices will not hamper the gains realised through modern education of children and vowed to protect all rites of passages in a bid to cement the culture.

Led by Narok County Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, the leaders said the Maasai culture remains an envy of both the locals and foreigners, noting that it takes dedication and concerted efforts by the community to maintain and sustain the culture.

“We will continue to promote our cultures that have been before, during our times and continue to be practiced and observed up to today. We encourage our young generation to hold to these practices to retain our culture and our identity,” Ntutu said.

The leaders also called for the need for Maa counties to put together resources by budgeting substantial amount of money to empower the cultural activities.

Ntutu used the opportunity to urge parents to protect their girls from undergoing FGM and early marriages during the holidays.

The leaders were speaking at Isampin location, Transmara West, Narok County during the Enkipaata ceremony involving the induction of boys leading to their initiation to moranism and eventually elders.

Other leaders present were PS John Ololtuaa, MPs Julius Ole Sunkuli (Kilgoris), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Kitilai ole Ntutu (Narok South), Rebecca Tonkei (Narok Women Rep) Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr) , CASs Samuel Tunai (Interior), Wilson Sossion (Tourism), Rehema Dida Jaldesa (Culture) and Ilmeshuki cultural leader William Oltetia among others.

Over 2,000 boys aged between 12 and 20 years will graduate after a seven-day induction on values such as respect and responsibility, safeguarding of their lineage, transfer of power from one age set to the other and the transmission of indigenous knowledge being inculcated amongst the young boys during the period.

Ololtua said preservation of the Maasai culture remains a key priority for its sustainability besides its role in diversity of tourism offering in the country. 

He said besides wildlife which Kenya is widely known for, culture is one of the key experiences that seek to diversify tourism by showcasing its diverse cultural heritage.

On his part, Sunkuli called on the national assembly to set aside funds that will help in the conservation of different cultures.

“Without culture, we will not go any way as a nation so there is need to preserve by all means,” Sunkuli said.

Tonkei said the Maasai community was an embodiment of cultural experiences in the country and vowed that the community will do all it takes towards its preservation and sustainability.

“Every step of the lives of our children must be aligned to our cultural values and practices even as we embrace education without which we cannot prosper as a community,” Tonkei said.

Nyoro hailed the Maasai community for preserving its culture over generations and urged other communities to emulate them on the preservation of culture.

Oltetia said the event will take two weeks and after that the young boys will go back t their respective schools for second term calendar.

"This is a pure mix of culture and education because we don't engage on issues that will affect the education of children because it is key to good life," Oltetia said.

The event that comes to a close with a colorful passing out of the young boys on Saturday brought together key political figures in the community and beyond.

Earlier, the leaders called for the need to protect and cement their culture by making their cultural ceremonies an annual calendar event to be observed by the Maa speaking communities in the country.