SAMPU

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ENKUSERO SAMPU CONSERVANCY

Introduction

Sampu

Sampu is a maa word meaning “a place of many colors” and Enkusero is a maa word which means “ table like plains”. The two words are combined to symbolize the beauty and abundance of the Olooruka hills that stretch across the Enkusero Sampu Conservancy creating an amphitheatre with the numerous flora and fauna found within its boundary.

The conservancy is in an indigenous community setting, hosting Maasai, who have withstood time to preserve their cultural heritage that dates back centuries ago.

Enkusero Sampu Conservancy (ESC) is an organization registered in Kenya as a trust. It has its primary focus dedicated towards preserving, promoting and protecting the diversity of both the cultural heritage and the natural wildlife resources of Kenya. 

Our History • Community based initiative was formed in 2011 by 36 Maasai

families who decided to consolidate their individual parcels of land to form a conservation unit.

• Initial 7, 000 acres of privately owned pastoral land Later conservancy land increased to 10, 000 acres (donation from Kenya Wildlife Service).

• Board of 9 drawn from the 22 family landowners and elected by the families to govern the CBO on behalf of the families in respect to the current organization’s bylaws.

• Unachievable without the selfless contributions of a team of volunteers drawn from the International Center for the Conservation of African Rangelands (ICCAR (Philip) ) and The Friends of Cedar and Acacia (FCA (Denis)) who granted their expertise and knowledge towards the successful formation of the Enkusero Sampu Conservancy .  

Our Mission

To sustainably manage the natural, cultural, historical and other heritage resources that lie within Enkusero Sampu Conservancy land and its surroundings.

This process is achieved through sound operational guidelines, policies and community strategies.

This is done so that the unique, vulnerable, valuable and sensitive environmental assets of ESC are conserved for the benefit of future generations to come.

Our Objectives

Our primary objective is: Primary objective of ESC is to establish a brand that will appeal to the

educational, scientific, leisure, corporate, sports and adventure markets as well as preserving the unique Maasai culture in a pristine natural wildlife habitat.

Our specific objectives include: Maintaining biological connectivity between the Hells Gate National

Park, Shompole Conservancy, Kidong Ranch, Mt. Suswa Conservancy, Mosiro, Olkiramatian Group Ranch, The Ngong Hills Forest, Nairobi National Park and other important biological corridors

Creating a buffer ecological zone for the Nairobi National Park. Conserving the Sampu wildlife habitat and vulnerable species through a

special human-wildlife co-existence program to protect local biodiversity.

Developing livelihoods of Sampu community members through improved basic infrastructure, livestock and other social enterprises.

Promoting sustainable development in local communities of the Olooruka and Olesakut ecosystems through partnerships in ecotourism, education and research.

 Developing and sustaining archaeological and historical sites inside the conservancy.

 Location

ESC is located in Kajiado County, south of Nairobi in the former Rift Valley province at the foot of the famous Ngong Hills.  Administratively, the 10,000 acre conservancy lies in the South West of greater Ngong Division stretching in an area of approximately 20 sq Kms. It borders Oltepesi near Oloorgersalie and Mosiro . It is strategically important to the Nairobi National Park and Ngong hills forest as a conservation buffer zone. It is about an hour’s drive from Nairobi City Centre passing through Lang’ata road and joining magadi road where it goes further past Rongai, Kiserian and Corner Baridi. It lies on the opposite side of Olepolos Country Club.

The Ngong Hills Forest is 26 kilometres from the Nairobi Central business District and is one of the few forests in the world located within a city. Its location is at the north-eastern tip of Kajiado County in Ngong division which is in close proximity to Ngong town. The hill forest is a dry mundane forest, and hence provides a bio-geographic link between the larger mountainous region in central Kenya (Mount Kenya and Aberdare’s ranges) and the other large mountains in Northern Tanzania (Mount Meru, Kilimanjaro).

Nairobi National Park on the other hand is a unique ecosystem that is famed of being the only protected area in the world within a capital city. The park is located only 7 km from Nairobi city centre and is only an hour drive away from Enkusero Sampu Conservancy along the Nairobi – Magadi road. The park provides an inspirational partnership to the conservancy as the reference point in management of a conservation area in the midst of an expanding urban populace.

Management

Sampu has a long list of supporters and well wishers but there is nothing more that prides the conservancy than the spirit of its senior staff who volunteered their skills and time towards conservation of our magnificent ecosystem. We thank them for their efforts in making the Enkusero Sampu Conservancy a success story in community conservation.

The following is our management staff: Paul Kilelu – General Manager Denis Marangu – Operations Manager (Volunteer) Noreen Mutoro – Conservation Officer (Volunteer) Koitamo Rampei-Community liason/Admin Juliet Kariuki –Volunteer/Probono We currently have 3 (three) conservancy rangers

being trained at the Kenya Wildlife Services rangers training school at Law Enforcement Academy (Manyani ). The rangers are expected to graduate and resume their responsibility in 3 months time.

The Rangers are : Wilfred Kilenyi-Ranger Maryanne Kasaine –Ranger John kurraru –Ranger

Proposed Projects Water and sanitation Income generating activities, Ecolodge,

Campsites, Curios, hiking, dance troupes, Capacity building Alternative energy Alternative livelihoods Food security Student Scholarships Health Entertainment Education

PartnersOrganizations

KWS

Bush Trucker Safaris

SORALO

Village Level Ecotourism

Development Program

Ecotourism Kenya

Individuals Laure Dillon - Hawai Shell Vacations Eli Wise - Weldize Foundation Paul Melau Melonyie – Ongata Academy George Kariuki - Kiki Investments Heather Wilky-Village Level Ecotourism

Development Program