Kenya is still experiencing the worst drought in living memory.  Although the April rains have come to Tanzania and parts of Kenya, they have failed where we are in the Rift Valley.  Most of the Maasai have moved their cattle to Tanzania until December, providing that the November rains come on time.

The remaining wildlife is left to cope as best they can.  We have seen more dead zebra than we can count, and each week, there are corpses scattered across the bottom of the barren Rift.

Educated estimates at the loss of wildlife could be as high as 80 to 90% in our area.  The seed base has been depleted to such a degree that little grass will grow when the rains do come the first couple of seasons.  It could take up to five years for the landscape and wildlife to recover.

Luckily, the rain has come to the Maasai Mara, one of Kenya’s most majestic game reserves far to the west of us, and the animals there will survive the 2009 drought.  For us, it remains a sad and devastating blow to the environment.

We also have been asked how the drought and the economy have affected the Maasai women who work for The Leakey Collection making our Zulugrass jewelry.  On average, we now have between 200 to 300 women working, which is substantially down from the 1400 of past years. However, we feel very fortunate to have such loyal followers as you so we can continue to provide the work opportunity to as many Maasai as we do.  The entire team at The Leakey Collection, including the Maasai women, are very excited about the new products that we are working on here in Kenya that will expand that work opportunity.  We thank you for your continued support.