KENYA: A Maasai village which donated cows to the victims of 9/11, 5 years ago receives scholarships from US government

Record ID: 361992

  • Title: KENYA: A Maasai village which donated cows to the victims of 9/11, 5 years ago receives scholarships from US government
  • Date: 12th September 2006
  • Summary: (BN12) ENOOSAEN, KENYA (SEPTEMBER10,2006) (REUTERS) MAASAI WOMEN AND MEN DANCING AS THEY WELCOME U.S. AMBASSADOR TO KENYA MICHAEL RANNEBERGER UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO KENYA MICHAEL RANNEBERGER SURROUNDED BY MAASAI WOMEN MAASAI MEN DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL DRESS DANCING MAASAI MEN HOLDING WARRIOR STICKS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO KENYA MICHAEL RANNEBERGER WALKING UP TO COWS DONA
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: International Relations,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA31TXAVF44ZD2KGJ8I69TJ2NM8
  • Story Text: The small village of Enoosaen - approximately 6 hours west of the Kenyan capital Nairobi is a Maasai village with a difference. When the twin towers were attacked in 2001, the Maasai offered sympathy to the Americans in the only way they knew - to offer cows.
    The initial 14 cows have now multiplied to several dozen and are identified with a distinctive split ear notch designed by the US Ambassador to resemble the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.
    The cows which cannot be sold or slaughtered are referred to as American cows. The local community which holds these cows sacred hope that survivors or relatives of people killed in the September 11 attacks will be able to come and see the cows as part of the healing process.
    This morning, hundreds of villagers dressed in traditional Maasai regalia, tyre sandals and the male villager carrying traditional weapons turned out to welcome the offer of education by US.
    The offer of 14 scholarships 7 boys and 7 girls to study in American Universities was welcomed by the students in this dusty village where there is no power and the main mode of transport is donkey.
    The highest ranking Maasai elder himself illiterate marked the agreement with a fingerprint as the Americans signed their names.
    Maasai elders also called on villagers to encourage their children to attend schools to take advantage of the scholarships.
    "We are very happy to get the scholarship and we say thank you very much," said student, Helen Kakenya.
    The villagers cheered clapped and ululated after the announcement and the community elders thanked the Americans for the reciprocal deed saying their donation was purely a sympathy gesture after the 9/11 attacks and the had not expected anything back.
    "We did not give them cows expecting to be rewarded, we were just sorry for what happened, but we are very grateful for their reciprocating deed." said Samuel Kalalama.
    The US embassy and private American individuals have built a school and a water project for the mainly nomadic Maasai tribesmen and are also putting up a health centre to cater for Maternity cases.
    "We all know how important cattle are to the Maasai people, so their gift was really one of unconditional generosity." said the US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger during the occasion.
    The man who arranged for the donation of cows, called the American offer of education - non ending gift.
    "I am particularly moved that they thought actually giving us education, because the gift of cows continues to give it's a non ending gift, it's a life the cows keep multiplying, continue to give birth now they are many. Now education is also a non ending gift, it almost matches because it will transform the lives of ordinary people in this village." Said Wilson Nayiomah.
    On terrorism - the Maasai elders said that they hope that those involved, in any way, in the attacks on the Twin Towers would be arrested and brought to justice.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register