The Story of Saikeri
A Maasai Community's Struggle and Hope
Saikeri, a rural Maasai village nestled in Kajiado West in eastern Kenya, faces significant challenges that compromise the well-being of its residents, numbering around 2,000 people. This community, rich in cultural heritage, grapples with poverty, inadequate healthcare, water scarcity, and a lack of educational resources, compounded by an unsightly environment filled with litter, including broken glass, plastic, and general waste.
The daily life of Saikeri’s inhabitants is marked by a struggle for basic necessities. Many families manage to have only one meal a day, often a small portion of Ugali—a stiff porridge made from maize flour and water. Some children and adults only consume a cup of porridge made from maize, wheat, or millet flour, while others may resort to just drinking boiled milk with tea leaves instead of a solid meal. The scarcity of food is further aggravated by droughts that sweep through the region, severely hindering the ability of residents to cultivate crops.
Accessing clean water is arguably the most pressing challenge in Saikeri. The closest source of water is a kilometer away, requiring residents to undertake a difficult trek to collect drinking water—water that is frequently contaminated and shared with livestock. This situation leads to numerous health problems, including illnesses like dysentery and typhoid, which tragically have claimed the lives of many individuals, particularly children.
Hope arrived when an NGO installed a borehole to provide fresh water for the community, the local medical clinic, and Saikeri School. This borehole initially transformed life in the village, significantly improving health and sanitation. However, disaster struck when the pump broke two years later, leaving the community without the necessary resources to fix it. Once again, villagers found themselves relying on unsafe water sources. The village possesses four water tanks that remain empty, and without the functioning borehole, the only possible source of clean water would require costly transport from Ngong town, located 60 kilometers away.
In search of change, Christian and Carol from Yellow Wings were moved by the state of the village, particularly the litter scattered throughout the area. Determined to make a difference, they organized a village cleanup initiative. This effort brought together 200 enthusiastic children from Saikeri School, who donned bibs, gloves, and masks to tackle the litter problem. Their collective effort, made a noticeable improvement in the village’s environment. As a reward for their hard work, the children were treated to bread and sodas—a rare and cherished delight amidst their daily challenges.
Education in Seikeri faces its own set of difficulties. Many students rise as early as 3 AM to make their way through the bush to attend school, often without lunch or access to clean water throughout the day. The local medical center, staffed by a single nurse, suffers from a severe lack of essential medical supplies, with only basic medications available. Additionally, girls in the community face challenges such as limited access to sanitary items and the threat of early marriage and pregnancy.
The ongoing environmental issues affecting Kenya exacerbate the problems faced by the villagers. Drought conditions hinder agricultural efforts, creating further strain on food resources, especially in the absence of a functional borehole. Financial constraints also make it difficult for parents to provide essential school supplies such as books and writing materials, leaving many children without the tools they need to succeed in their education.
While the story of Saikeri is filled with hardship, it also showcases the resilience and unity of its people. Community members continue to search for solutions, motivated by the hope of a better future. Support from NGOs, volunteers, and compassionate individuals is crucial in transforming the village's circumstances and providing the resources and opportunities that the residents of Saikeri need to thrive.
Yellow Wings is proud to have sponsored the cleanup initiative and hopes it has sparked a lasting desire to maintain a cleaner environment through action and education. We look forward to supporting this project in the future and welcome anyone interested in getting involved to reach out through the form below. The day spent with the Yellow Wings team, engaging with the incredible and resilient children of Saikeri, was truly rewarding. We hope you enjoy the above photos that capture the spirit and determination of this vibrant community.