Nashetu-E-Maa
Practical Action
Traditional Maasai house – an enkaji stands low to the ground and is inconspicuous on the
landscape. Photo: Practical Action / Lucky Lowe.
Developing technologies in partnership with the communities of Kajiado has been a complex,
dynamic process involving home owners and builders, artisans and various local organisations
which have an interest in improving the standard of living of the Maasai people. Practical
Action’s work has focused on housing technologies: new options evolved through collaborative
research and development in the regional training centre, at demonstration sites and whilst
building people’s new homes.
Research, liaison and technology development with members of
the Maasai communities were critical in ensuring a clear
understanding of the needs, the available resources and potential
for adapting technologies.
Learning together: participatory research and
development
The research and development of appropriate construction
technologies and the initial trial construction activities (adapting
known technologies to local needs and resources) were
undertaken in collaboration with the Maasai Rural Training
Centre. This organisation is concerned with the training of
artisans, primarily men, in construction craft skills.
The following housing options were developed through
participatory processes and are discussed in more detail later.
Maso Munyere, a young
Maasai woman, builds her
first house. Maso learnt the
necessary skills from
watching her mother. Photo:
Practical Action / Lucky Lowe.
House construction technologies:
• rammed earth
construction;
• ferro-cement skin roof;
• ferro-cement panel walls;
• stabilised soil block (SSB)
walling.
Housing design and additional
features:
• higher ceilings;
• larger windows;
• improved sanitation
• rainwater catchment and
storage;
• increased workspace;
• smoke extraction.
At the Maasai Rural Training Centre demonstration site,
Practical Action staff and local artisans, built four new types
of housing enabling skills to be developed and providing
physical evidence for others to see. Photo: Practical Action / Dave
Mather.
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