TWO VISIONARY MAASAI LEADERS – one an adopted son and the other a cultural leader and government chief – founded the Ilkerin Loita Integral Development Programme (ILIDP) in 1968. Father Jan Voshaar, a Dutch missionary, adopted and was adopted by the Maasai community in Loita. Kone ole Senteu, the chief, wielded tremendous political and spiritual influence among his people. Both deeply spiritual and thoughtful in their own way, they managed to sidestep what could have been a clash of cultures and developed a deep interpersonal dynamic that yielded, among others, a common ground in their commitment to working towards a better life for the Loita Maasai.
      Kone’s hypnotic personality, charisma and firmness motivated the community. Voshaar’s realization that “saving souls for Heaven” required improving the lot of bodies here on earth compelled him to broaden the scope of his mission. Their combined legacy and purpose enabled the programme’s concept to take seed and grow in Loita and have been the cornerstone and guiding principles in the formulation and adoption of the unique strategies and approaches the programme has used over the years.

Looking back: Introduction and Background

The Ilkerin Loita Integrated Development Project (ILIDP) was started in 1968, as a joint venture between the Catholic Diocese of Ngong and the Loita Maasai pastoralist. Its vision and philosophy has remained largely the same only adjusting and adapting to changing environmental realities. The previous project phases can be summarized as follows:

1968-1971: Project formulation, design and initial decision-making
This entailed initial dialogue and consultations between the then major projects stakeholders. This led to needs assessment, trust building and mutual agreement on key issues as well as the actual nature of the project.

1972-1975: Project implementation: physical infrastructure
Most of the physical infrastructures at the project’s main centre were established. The project’s target group contributed greatly to infrastructural development.

1976 - 1984: Project implementation: programmes and activities
During this period the actual implementation of project programmes was started e.g. livestock improvement and upgrading, community training and the establishment of sub-centres. Project leadership was also taken over by Maasai professionals and the project management to the Loita Maasai. Additionally a first ever-major self-evaluation was undertaken, a constitution enforced, Board of Governors formed and an improved system of project administration and financial management installed.

1985 -1988: Consolidation of project activities and efforts towards self-reliance
Programme activities were consolidated and intensified, economic activities re-organised and the sub-centres completed. Promotion of subsistence agriculture was initiated and the project’s annual field day turned into a mini locational show. The project received an award as one of the best 19 rural development projects in Kenya.

1989 - 1996: Community organisation, empowerment, advocacy and networking
Efforts made to organise the community into suitable organisational structures; income generation; gender awareness, training on land issues, women and youth training programmes were started. Two external project evaluations were undertaken, the project constitution was reviewed and revised, financial management was computerised; Consultations with stakeholders to refocus and restructure the project and make it more professional, efficient and effective was initiated.

1997 – 2000: Organisational Development, Institutional strengthening and Re-organisation
Organisational development and institutional strengthening aimed at improving its operational efficiency and effectiveness undertaken by ETC East Africa and Corat Africa resulting in the actual restructuring and re-organisation of Ilkerin Loita Integral Development project (ILIDP). The project functions were streamlined around its new role in the community with facilitation as its core business and more power devolved to the sub-centres and to the newly formed Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDAs) based at the sub-centres.

2001-2005: Continuation of Organisational Development, & Project restructuring
Following on the previous phase of restructuring and commencement of organisational development, there was more focused strengthening and development of the Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDAs) as a vehicle to undertake the grassroot activities. Each Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDA) was provided with or recruited at least two staff - an animator and a motivator to act as the secretariat. In addition to this, executive committees were appointed and their members trained on how to work with the secretariat to provide policy direction and ensure proper functioning of the Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDAs). Ilkerin Loita Integral Development project (ILIDP) was also actively involved in providing support to the Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDAs) in various specialised areas and services.

2006-2008: Consolidating the capacities of local community structures
Decentralization of the Ilkerin Loita Integrated Development Project (ILIDP) to the Pastoralists Community Development Associations (PCDAs) whereby ILIDP commits itself to building the capacity/ies of the PCDAs as local structures managing the community affairs. ILIDP will remain as the umbrella structure and a technical support institution to both the PCDAs and other local Community Based Organizations (CBOs).