MMET SET TO LAUNCH NEW PROJECT

Plans to launch an intellectual property rights sensitization campaign, to agitate for the return of the Kiondo and the Kikoi to its rightful owners are at an advanced stage. Dubbed Regesha kiondo, Regesha kikoi the forum will bring together artisans, designers, producers, legal officers, law enforcers, activist and policy makers to deliberate, trouble shoot and strategize on how to tackle intellectual property issues specifically in regard to the Kiondo and Kikoi in an attempt to safe guard our heritage. In lieu of what is happening in the globally where certain organizations have proceeded to patent items of Kenyan heritage MMET has considered it prudent to carry out a sensitization campaign on the importance of intellectual property rights while agitating for the preservation of Kiondo and Kikoi as authentic Kenyan products and protect similar products at risk. It’s of great concern that if Kenya continues to loose the rights to trade in its own inventions and those that have been brought down through generations like the Kiondo and the Kikoi, then the global effort to eradicate poverty and attain the MDGs will be difficult to attain.
The Kiondo is an African traditional basket, popular amongst the Akamba Agikuyu and Maasai women due to its form and function. It was widely used in the pre-colonial period and women had deep attachment to their Kiondo. Usually there were different sizes to suit different applications depending on the type of goods one had to carry. Made from sisal the Kiondo has many different designs which have been mutating over the years.In the 1980s due to the rapid growth of tourism in Kenya, the Kiondo became a popular souvenir item for tourists. It’s during this period that the Kiondo changed from the previous heavy duty utility to the modern day trendy small pouch with a fashion sense. This change led to the development of an entire industry that supported many families especially in the rural areas where the bulk of the women, weave for a living. Much of the Kenyan country side has high rates of poverty and the business of weaving the Kiondo has been a key earner. This is especially so in Ukambani a semi arid area mainly inhabited by the Akamba where water is scarce and food security is poor. Statistics show that 56% of all Kenyans are living below the poverty line and now the patenting of the Kiondo by overseas companies is set to aggravate the problem by impoverish the communities further. Already the sales of Kiondo has plummeted and there concerns that they might halt altogether. Many women who are the bread winners of their families have are losing their livelihood. This affects entire families who are dependent on their mothers and sisters in such business.

The Kikoi, another ladies favorite, is an African shawl with its origins along the East African coast. Traditionally used for cultural purposes, the Kikoi gained its prominence due to the rapid growth of the tourism industry. It has for a long time been a source of revenue for many families as young women earn their living from producing the popular garment. This however is threatened by the recent attempt to patent the traditional garment under the brand name ‘Kikoy’. Already due to an influx of Indian copies of the ‘Kikoy’ thousands have their means of living affected. This is set to worsen if the brand is patented abroad.It’s in the light of this that we in the Maasai Market Empowerment Trust came out with an action plan that not only will it save our beloved Kiondo and Kikoi but also will protected thousands of other items that are produced every week by designers.
The forum which will be held in late July in a yet to be confirmed venue within the city with conjunction with a cultural institute and will follow two successful meetings where beneficiaries of the Trust gave their go ahead to the trusts action plan.