Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya

Francis Opiyo; Oliver Wasonga; Moses Nyangito; Janpeter Schilling; Richard Munang

doi:10.1007/s13753-015-0063-4

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Disaster Risk Science > 2015 > 6(3): 295-309

Francis Opiyo, Oliver Wasonga, Moses Nyangito, Janpeter Schilling, Richard Munang. Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2015, 6(3): 295-309. doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0063-4

Citation:

Francis Opiyo, Oliver Wasonga, Moses Nyangito, Janpeter Schilling, Richard Munang. Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2015, 6(3): 295-309. doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0063-4

Citation:

Francis Opiyo, Oliver Wasonga, Moses Nyangito, Janpeter Schilling, Richard Munang. Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2015, 6(3): 295-309. doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0063-4

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Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya

doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0063-4

1 Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 00625, Kenya;
2 United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), Global Policy Centre, Nairobi 00100, Kenya;
3 International Alert, Environment, Climate Change and Security Program, London SW9 9AP, UK;
4 United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), Regional Office for Africa, Nairobi 00100, Kenya

Funds:

This study was funded by African Climate Change Fellowship Program, Global Change for System Analysis, Research & Training—ACCFP/START, and additional support from the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Center/START and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) under Climate and Development Knowledge Network small grant.

Available Online: 2021-04-26

Abstract

Abstract

This study highlights drought characteristics and the many responses to drought stresses employed by Turkana pastoralists of northwestern Kenya. Multiple data sources, including socioeconomic interviews with 302 households, focus group discussions, and informal interviews with pastoralists were used to capture various aspects of drought and drought adaptation and coping practices. Standardized precipitation index derived from long-term rainfall data obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Service was used to quantify different degrees of drought intensity between 1950 and 2012. Results revealed that extreme drought events were increasingly frequent, and have impacted negatively on pastoral livelihoods. In order to adapt to or cope with climatic anomalies, households are using a variety of strategies. In addition to the traditional short-term coping mechanisms, the long-term adaptation strategies used include diversification of livelihood sources; livestock mobility to track forage and water resources; diversification of herd composition to benefit from the varied drought and disease tolerance, as well as fecundity of diverse livestock species; and sending children to school for formal education as a long term investment expected to pay back through income from employment. Policies and development interventions that reduce risks, diminish livelihood constraints, and expand opportunities for increased household resilience to drought are critical complements to the existing pastoral strategies.
- Adaptive capacity,
- Climate change,
- Pastoralism,
- Resilience,
- Turkana

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References(76)

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