Student showcase traditional medicine at Maa cultural event

Omwenga, from the Ilchamus community, told the attendees that he began practicing herbal medicine after learning the wisdom and knowledge passed down by the elders in his community.

One of the visitors at his stall is Prof. Pennina Aloo, the Vice Chancellor Maasai Mara University, who sampled traditional value-added products, including moringa, stinging nettle, dandelion, hibiscus, turmeric, ginger, garlic, chamomile, chia seeds, flaxseeds, cayenne pepper and baobab.

Omwenga, who is a master’s student at Maasai Mara University, sells these products to his classmates and lecturers.

He remembers during his younger days, when he would watch his family and community use plants to heal different ailments.

"We dry the plants carefully and grind them into powders. People can make herbal tea or use them for other health perks. The Maasai land is huge, full of native plants. We pick them based on what they can do for the body, then prepare them just right," he explains.

Ambitious to grow his market nationwide and eventually export his products abroad, Omwenga praises the Maa Culture event for giving him a platform to showcase his herbal remedies, connect with others and reach new buyers.

Omwenga adds that the Cultural Week at Maasai Mara University helps him connect with students, lecturers and other visitors while educating them on the importance of traditional medicine. He says the event also provides valuable market opportunities for his products.

The income from his sales supports his daily needs, including paying school fees, buying clothes, food, covering transport costs and paying rent.

As a student, Omwenga shares that he gathers his raw materials during long school breaks and weekends.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), one hundred seventy countries reported on the use of traditional medicine, with acupuncture being the most common form of practice in 113 countries.

Again, around 40% of pharmaceutical products today have a natural product basis, and landmark drugs derive from traditional medicine. Traditional medicine and traditional knowledge have contributed to breakthrough medical discoveries.

Jackson Masango, who coordinates community outreach at Maasai Mara University, shares how the school is helping. "The Maasai community has a treasure of old knowledge, and our forests are packed with helpful plants," he says. "That's why we're working together with locals to support new ideas and fund student projects."

Masango also stresses the importance of science. "We must prove what these native herbs can do. By working with the community, we can document the Maasai stories and traditions."

He points out the tough times ahead. "Weather patterns are shifting, affecting people's lives and livelihoods," he adds.

Prof. Aloo reveals that Maasai Mara University is collaborating with Oxford University to promote culture. She says they will promote the Maa culture, working with the Maa elders.

“Here we are going to promote mainly the Maasai culture in this centre. We are also going to start teaching indigenous languages, starting with the Maasai language,” she says.

Prof. Aloo continues, “Already we have a committee in the university that is specifically interviewing elders so that we can record this rich culture and preserve it. We know very well in Kenya the richest culture that we have is the Maasai culture.  We are connecting with Oxford University to work together so that we can establish this cultural centre.”

She explains that the university hosts a Cultural Week event every Friday, where students showcase diverse cultures from across the country. This, she says, has strengthened their cultural identity as a university, and wearing Maa attire every Friday has now become a cherished tradition.

Prof. Laura Van Broekhoven, from the University of Oxford was also fascinated by the Maa Culture event. She explains they are now looking at whether they can have a partnership with Maasai Mara University and hopefully do a conference together.

“Maasai Mara University has all kinds of ambitions around having a cultural centre and we are sort of looking at whether we can support with ideas, with networks,” she says.

Climate change

Omwenga explains that his business has increasingly been affected by the impacts of climate change. He says that while tree herbs used to be readily available in the past, they have now become scarce.

“Before, some tree species were everywhere, but now they’re hard to find. Droughts last longer, and sudden floods wash away the fertile soil. The trees don’t get enough water, so they grow weak and produce poor-quality herbs,” he says.

Dr. Charity Konana, an expert on conservation, agrees that climate change is real and hitting our forests hard.

"Extreme weather, like endless dry spells and heavy rains, destroys trees. Without water, they die. Floods wash away the rich soil and young plants. This cuts down on the special trees we use for medicines," Dr. Konana says.

She adds that climate change also spreads plant diseases, making herbs less effective.

To reverse the effects, Dr. Konana urges more study, saying, "We need to invest into research at universities. Let's grow more types of plants, find the best regions for them and learn how to care for them better."