Kenya Wildlife Service and Amboseli Ecosystem Trust Endorse the Maasai Mammas Borehole Project in Amboseli
When we travelled to Amboseli in July, our priority was clear: ensure that the Maasai Mammas Borehole Project would strengthen both community wellbeing and conservation outcomes.
We met with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), representatives from Big Life Foundation, local leaders, and conservation partners to review the project in detail. Our mission has always been simple and unwavering:
Bring safe, reliable water to Maasai families — while protecting the wildlife that shares their land.
Today, we are proud to share that this mission has now received two official letters of support from leading conservation authorities in Kenya.
First Endorsement: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
Following an in-depth consultation with the Community Warden of Amboseli National Park, Kenya Wildlife Service formally endorsed the project.
In their letter of support, KWS confirms that:
- The proposed borehole location strengthens — not harms — the Amboseli ecosystem
- The project reduces human–wildlife conflict
- Dedicated livestock and wildlife water access will ease pressure on natural habitats
- Women and youth will benefit through meaningful enterprise and skills development
This endorsement confirms that the project aligns with national conservation priorities and environmental best practice.
Second Official Letter: Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET)
We are deeply honoured to also receive a second formal letter of support from the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust (AET), signed by Executive Director Jackson Mwato.
AET recognizes the project’s mission to bring safe, reliable water access to over 1,500 community members in Olkelunyet villages, which border Amboseli National Park.
Importantly, AET confirms that the initiative aligns with the Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan, ensuring that both people and wildlife can thrive together.
The project addresses:
- Critical water scarcity
- Food security challenges
- Human–wildlife conflict in a fragile ecosystem
With endorsement from both KWS and AET, the project is now recognized at both conservation and ecosystem management levels.
Why This Matters
Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most sensitive ecosystems. Human–wildlife conflict remains a serious challenge, with thousands of incidents recorded nationally over the past decade.
By:
- Piping clean water directly into four manyattas
- Constructing a dedicated wildlife and livestock trough outside the community
- Protecting infrastructure with electrified fencing
- Planning in consultation with conservation authorities
We reduce risk for women and children while also supporting wildlife survival during drought.
This is not just a borehole.
It is a coexistence model.
A Turning Point
With the support of Kenya Wildlife Service and the Amboseli Ecosystem Trust, this initiative now carries recognition at both community and conservation levels.
It is a testament to:
- The leadership of the Maasai Mammas
- On-the-ground partnership and lived experience
- Rotary Batemans Bay’s commitment
- A unified vision for people, place, and planet
Where water flows, opportunity grows — for families, for wildlife, and for future generations.