Food

The Mothers living in Maro Manyatta are the “first” wives of our fathers. Our Mothers’ husbands, our Elders, do not live in the Manyatta and are therefore not present to assist with the daily provision of food. The primary responsibility of these Elders is to look after their other 2-3 wives and their children, which live in remote towns outside the Manyatta.

The Elders have entrusted all responsibility for the well being of their women to the Moran Chief Commander and the Manyatta’s Assistant Chief. The 400 permanent Maasai residents and the approx. 200 Morans living in the bush that visit the Manyatta for food every weekend depend on the Chief Commander and Assistant Chief for food. This is an extremely difficult task in a large community like Maro Manyatta.

Funds for food are collected from the Morans that are part of our Manyatta. After Morans return back home with the cattle in the winter months, collection of these funds is highest, but since more food is available with the rains, funds less needed to fund the purchase of food. In the drought season, when most Morans are far away in Tsavo grazing the cattle, few are present to collaborate with the food fund.

The Chief Commander himself works 3 times per week on a tomato farm to earn funds which are used towards the purchase of food for the Manyatta. In addition to all their other duties, Mothers and children sometimes work in the tomato fields to earn 100 Ksh or approx. $1 per day. In times of desperate need, an Elder owner of an cow must grant permission to sell it in order to secure funds for food. A Moran is sent to Tsavo National Park in a walk that takes a few days. He is then to return with the animal, sell it and secure food for everyone.