Tucked deep in the Maasai Mara, Narok County, along the wildlife corridor connecting the Mara Game Reserve and Amboseli National Park is the Loita Forest.
According to Maasai folklore, a little girl wandered far into the forest to herd calves. However, unlike other cattle herders who returned home after a long field day, the young girl never returned though the calves did. A search team was dispatched, but as days turned into weeks, into months and years she was never found, hence the moniker, the Forest of the Lost Child or Naimana Enkiyio in Maa language. As a precaution, locals are warned not to venture into certain parts of the forest lest they disappear forever.
Like many undocumented tales, it’s hard to verify the truth behind the lost girl fable. What is indisputable, however, is that the forest has survived historical encroachment and deforestation, remaining one of the few surviving indigenous forests in Kenya.
Made up of giant mosaic trees, wildflowers and patches of grasslands, Loita Forest is a traditionally conserved forest, whose significance goes beyond ecological functions. Using indigenous knowledge, Maasai people have conserved the Loita Forest since time immemorial under the guidance of their spiritual leader, Oloibon. The Oloibon has been the custodian of the forest since time immemorial, overseeing the community’s conservation of the forest and sustainable use of its resources.
“I have the instruments to ensure this forest remains the same, I can give my own life for the conservation of this forest. The world can meet and pass resolutions on conservation but if they need the indegineous knowledge, let them come and I will show them how we have been conserving the forest since time immemorial.” Oloibon Mokompo Senteu Ole Simel, Maasai Spiritual Leader
The forest currently faces intense pressure from ongoing land subdivision and crop farming. If urgent conservation measures are not taken, environmental experts warn that a large part of the forest will be lost.
“Loita Forest is a gazetted water tower and one of the last remaining indigenous forests in the country. However, the ongoing land subdivision if not well guided will result in massive encroachment,” warned Samson Lenjirr — WWF-Kenya Mau-Mara-Loita Sub Landscape Coordinator.
In 2010, Kenya adopted a new constitution that did away with community group ranches in favour of community land tenure system, forcing pastoralist communities to subdivide their lands and acquire new title deeds. Last year, the Maasai community in Loita requested our support in securing the forest, to preserve and protect it. As a result, our team in June held a spatial planning engagement meeting with five communities living in the forest, namely: Narosura, Entasekera, Ilkerin and Elang’ata Entirit.
WWF-Kenya also provided resources for a legal expert to advise the community on the land transition process to help facilitate Free, prior and informed consent.
By Obi Owino
