MFSP Operational Area

Today's tour of Maasailand will take you through the basic outline of the MFSP working area.  Start in Mai Mahiu  at -.982866, 36.585601.  Head west along the Narok road, one of the nicest roads in all of Kenya.  A you travel the villages of Eluai, Olgumi and Kisharu will be south of the road and Olongonot (near Mt. Longonot) is to the north.  Continue along the road until -1.030377, 36.438436.  This is about the Western-most extent of the north edge of our area.

Steph at the Suswa crater, looking North

The view from Mt. Suswa looking east towards Najile

Now we plunge south toward Mt. Suswa.  The crater of Mt. Suswa is at -1.162948, 36.354967 with the villages of Ewuaso, Enajooli, Najile, and Olodungoro to the east of the mountain.  Go SSE to -1.232673, 36.391146.  You'll see a small hill called Soitamurt (Neck rock in Maa) and a road going east/west (the Najile road).  Soitamurt is one of the MFSP target areas and the other areas generally follow along that road.   Continue West along the Najile road to -1.271200, 36.324731 where you'll see the road cross a north/south line of green.   I believe this is a seasonal river and its an area known for its elephants.

A FFW truck that got stuck in the seasonal river beyond Soitamurt.

Now we get to a lower-resolution part of the map and its hard to tell what's what.  The western extent of our area is a community called Mosiro.  Follow the Najile road south at  -1.294436, 36.263250 (the brown area shows the contrast between the rainy/dry seasons).  The road goes south through the brown area and then veers west at -1.438493, 36.251911.  After a few more twists and turns you'll get to Oldorko Center (also known as Mosiro) at -1.478585, 36.143871.  To the southeast of the center is a girls school and further southeast is the Mariani water pan, built by MFSP through MCC.  Go to -1.523630, 36.178341.

The Mariani Water Pan

Now we return home, heading this time via the Olempirrish Dam, another MCC-supported water project.  I think it is at -1.370788, 36.28864 though I have not confirmed that yet (and the second pan nearby doesn't make sense).  Other villages in this area include Ilparako and Oldepe.  Now, move ENE towards -1.275832, 36.487185.  This ridge of mountains frames the eastern portion of MFSP's implementation area, so follow this ridge north all the way back to Mai Mahiu.

So that's MFSP's area of coverage.  Nobody is sure how many people live here, probably around 50,000 and almost entirely Maasai.  Its a land that has little to offer and yet for many including us, its home.