EZEKIEL OLE KATATO BIOGRAPHY
2023
My name is Ezekiel Ole Katato, a Maasai elder and culturalist working to secure the future for Maasai generations, wildlife and the environment in Kenya. In the last thirty years I worked to increase the enrollment of rural Maasai girls in schools by providing access to education for those who would otherwise never get an opportunity to go to school and ensure that girls enrolled in school are able to continue with their education as long as their ability and desire allow. 101 girls have gone through primary, high school and university education with this program.
Currently, I am working to create peace between the Maasai and elephants with the aim of promoting peaceful co-existence and securing and protecting 1.2 million hectares of land to conserve elephants, the environment and generate direct and sustainable income to rural villagers.
I conceptualized and managed “Walking with the Maasai”, a six day walking expedition through Maasai land in the footsteps of Joseph Thomson, the first European explorer to cross Maasai land in 1883. In his book “Through Maasai land” Joseph Thomson arrived in my current village on September 3rd 1883. The walk provides an authentic Maasai cultural and rural experience, connecting with nature and own inner peace. I learned about Joseph Thomson and his African expeditions in primary school in the early 1970s. The inaugural walk took place in 2014 with 25 Europeans and 25 Maasai warriors and young ladies participating.
Seventeen women and youth groups as well as twelve rural Maasai girls were supported through these walks. The walks were negatively affected by the Covid-19 travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and are yet to resume.
Click here to sign petition in support of the Maasai Peace Initiative with elephants. Good for wildlife and people.
Joining school during my time was not easy because parents believed that their children would be taken away to the white man’s land never to see them again. I was picked by soldiers with guns accompanied by my father while grazing cattle in the bush and the following day, I joined school. I ran five hours to and from school every day with a Maasai rob around my neck. For seven years I went through primary and later joined high school away from my village where I saw cars and a tarmac road for the first time. I did my Ordinary “O” level for four years and proceeded to my Advanced “A” level for two years. l Later joined college to study Science and practice of range management and animal husbandry for another two years. I went back to the village and for thirty years worked with communities in education and empowerment until recently when elephants entered into my village which gave birth to the current Maasai/elephant peace initiative.
Desperately thirsty elephant drinking from Maasai water trough and well used for people, livestock and now wildlife in severe five year drought in Kenya.
Click here to sign petition in support of the Maasai Peace Initiative with elephants. Good for wildlife and people.
