Running wild to save the Masai Mara

By Mutwiri Mutuota

Two years ago, a male white rhino born at the Mara Conservancy in the Masai Mara, was aptly named Kofi Annan, immortalising the former UN Secretary General who mediated the truce following the bungled December 2007 General Election.

Over the weekend, as athletes descended on the expansive plains surrounding Kileleoni Hills to compete in the inaugural Masai Mara Marathon, organisers arranged for dignitaries and media to pay homage to the young Annan.

Watching Annan play with the mother alongside another female rhino named Fatuma was enthralling, if at times a frightening experience for guests who knew all too well that the trio are some of the most ferocious animals.

Incidentally, Fatuma is ten months pregnant (she has another six more months to go as rhinos’ gestation period is 16 months) and the animal responsible is Annan’s father.

"If the offspring is male, he should be named Ocampo," a ranger guiding us offered, alluding to the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who has been instrumental in getting perpetrators of post-election violence tried at The Hague, where ICC sits.

As Annan and his family ambled off to retire for the day in the picturesque sunset on the conservancy established by the late Maasai paramount chief Lerionka Ole Ntutu, focus turned on what had brought some 300 athletes, dignitaries and journalists to the Mara.

A brainchild of former twice 800m world champion, Billy Konchellah, the Mara Marathon was mooted a couple of years ago to exploit the running talent among the Maasai community, while sensitising locals on the need to conserve the environment.

"I believe we have achieved this aim today since it has brought a lot of Maasai together along with their leaders," said Konchella. "P{eople in ur community live far apart and to have such a meeting here was a great success."

A pack of athletes in action in the Mara at the weekend. Photo: Jonah Onyango/Standard

"We want people of Masai Mara to plant trees and already we have been offered 300 acres for that purpose by community elders," disclosed Konchella, who was the 1987 and 1991 800m Olympic champion.

Land in Maasailand has not been demarcated and is held communally.

Eighth wonder

Under the plan, Kenya’s retired and current Olympic heroes will mobilise sponsors and wellwishers to contribute towards the effort.

The rehabilitation of the Mara River that courses through the conservancy is targeted as the main beneficiary of the reafforestation effort.

The River Mara supports wildlife in the area, and one of the most spectacular vistas – the wildebeest migration now considered the eighth wonder of the world.

This spellbinding exodus been adversely affected by deforestation of the Mau forest, although recent rains have seen the river’s water levels rise, having reduced to a trickle in the months gone by.

"Finances are the biggest challenge we face in pulling this through but we envision the event is to be an international affair in the long term. We are working to bring a big sponsor on board, with other firms invited to supplement their efforts," Konchellah explained.

Beyond the restoration of the Mara River, the marathon committee hopes to sink boreholes for the local community as well as facilitate training for any athletic talent that emerges from the area, in return for their nurture of the environment.

"Our women travel long distances, especially during the dry seasons, to fetch water," Konchellah said, explaining that it costs Sh1m to sink one borehole.

"After we have paid our bills from proceeds from the marathon, we will decide how best to meet that cost," he added.

"Through the event, we also intend to promote local tourism in the area during the low season so that locals can earn more round the year from the conservancy. The peak season for tourists is between June and August during the wildebeest migration," Konchellah explained.

The Mara Marathon was an exceptional experience for the athletes who took part in the 5km and 21km races for both men and women.

Before the start of the main half marathon races, morans (young men) resplendent in their regalia and heads gleaming with red ochre formed a shield around the competitors and performed a full repertoire of dances in the searing heat.

Rush to tape

Then it was time to tackle the course that was not well marked around the Kuluo, Wuanga, Njapit and Ngerende plains surrounding Kileleoni Hills before branching off to Engende Airstrip to finish at Fairmont Mara Safari Club.

As the rush to the tape intensified, some animals especially gazelles, monkeys, antelopes, wildebeest and buffalos could not resist the urge to join in the race, throwing some runners into panic.

"I almost screamed when some animals (a herd of buffalos) started running across our path," Peninah Arusei, who won the women’s 21km marathon, told reporters after the race.

"Running around wild animals was a nice experience and I would ask others to do it. I enjoyed myself," she added, pausing to catch her breath.