What is this project about?
The Olkeju Arus is a seasonal river that divides the Maasai communities in Olorte, Kenya. For much of the year the river can easily be forded but during the twice yearly rainy seasons the river floods, cutting off many of the 6,000 Maasai in the Olorte area from medical care, food supplies, the local school and provisions. Each year the lives of children, the elderly and livestock are lost through drowning. This is a project to build a permanent bridge over the Olkeju Arus river.
What will it mean to the Maasai community?
In addition to saving lives, the bridge will:
- Enable access to year-round medical care through a planned mobile clinic
- Connect people with the local airstrip, enabling emergency medical evacuation and medical specialists to visit
- Provide vital infrastructure to support community development and sustainable income through a planned eco-tourism business
What kind of bridge is needed?
The bridge is expected to be a reinforced concrete and steel structure that is:
- Strong enough to carry vehicles as well as pedestrians and livestock
- High enough above the river’s 3m flood height to avoid damage from debris carried by the torrent, such as large tree trunks
- A total of 60m long, comprising a 30m span over the river and a 30m causeway
The challenge
The project presents many challenges, such as:
- Being constructed largely using local unskilled Kenyan labour, transferring valuable skills and providing employment opportunities
- Being in a very remote location, 6,000 feet up in the Loita hills, with poor road access, restricting the sizes and types of materials that can be delivered to site
- Delivering an architecturally elegant structure in harmony with the surroundings and that benefits the planned eco-tourism business
How much will it cost?
Until the final design is complete it’s too early to say precisely. The initial estimate is £150,000, based on the current concept design, to cover all materials, equipment, transport and local labour. All time (including professional skills) from the UK will be given free of charge.
Where will the money come from?
Donations from individuals and churches are expected to cover a significant proportion of the costs. Corporate sponsorship is also required to meet the target, as is funding from charitable trusts. All money donated goes directly into the actual costs of the bridge and not into salaries or administration.
When will it be built?
It depends largely on how quickly the money can be raised. It is expected that construction will begin in early 2010, funds permitting.
Who is building the bridge?
This project is led from the UK by Ed Pask, a qualified engineer and experienced project manager living in West London.
If you would like to make a donation towards the costs of the project, please contact ed.pask@walkingwithmaasai.org.
