By Job Weru
Laikipia, Kenya: A Maasai morans’ cricket team famed for using the sport to advocate against HIV/Aids, and promote peace has now ventured in the fight against poaching.
The Maasai Cricket Warriors from Mukogodo in Laikipia County will on Thursday play against an Indian cricket team, Ambassadors of Cricket, in a T20 cricket match at the Ol’Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia.
The cricket event is meant to create awareness for an anti-rhino and elephant poaching. Ol’Pejeta Conservancy a renowned habitat for rhinos, especially the endangered black and Northern White rhino.
In a statement, the conservancy’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Vigne said: “We are extremely proud to support this initiative. The Maasai Cricket Warriors are a perfect example of how sports can be a conduit for raising awareness among communities, particularly children.”
The team, which plays while clad in red Shukas, was established a decade ago by its coach Aliya Bauer.
The aim of forming the team was to create awareness on cattle rustling, as well as the HIV scourge.
Spears for bats
Bauer said the team has since its establishment exchanged spears, which are used by warriors, for bats.
“They are using cricket as a vehicle to empower the youth and target social problems, in order to bring about positive change in their communities,” said Bauer.
Maasai Cricket Warriors play in full Maasai Moran attires, which include rings of colourful beads and sandals made from tyres, commonly known as akalas.
On Thursday, the team will face the Indian team in a Twenty20 match to be held at the expansive wildlife conservancy to be watched by locals and school-going children.
Black Rhinos
“Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-country competition by the England Cricket Board (ECB), in 2003,” said Bauer.
The event comes at a time when poaching of the two animal species has increased with the Kenya Wildlife Services putting in stringent measures to curb the vice.
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In Mt Kenya region, at least five black rhinos have been killed by poachers this year.
And last week, police recovered a rifle and 117 rounds of ammunition at a farm adjacent to the KWS headquarters, the Aberdares region.
The ammunition was wrapped with a KWS jungle trouser, raising questions over involvement of the KWS officers.
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