Somali Pastoralism In Transition From Traditional To Modern Methods Of Livestock Keeping: A Case Study Of Somali Pastoralists In Wajir County

Abstract

Livestock keeping is the main source of livelihood for pastoral households living in Northeastern parts of Kenya. The recent changes in livestock keeping among the Somali community in Wajir County have been occasioned by a variety of factors. This study examines the transition in livestock keeping among the Somali pastoralists in Wajir County. It is anchored on four objectives; identifying traditional techniques of Somali pastoralist, examining factors that influence the abandonment of Somali traditional livestock practices, assessing adoption of modern methods of livestock husbandry adopted by Somali pastoralists in Wajir and finally to examine the challenges of integrating modern and traditional methods of livestock keeping among Somali pastoralists in Wajir County. The study adopted two theories; common property theory to explain how livestock husbandry has changed over time, and the theory of ecology to explain environmental changes. The study used different methods of data collection. These included a household survey in which a sample size of 80 pastoral households heads were interviewed. The study findings indicated traditional methods: animal treatment using herbs, communal pasture, cross border and migration, climate adapted herd diversification and using time tested livestock traits breeding practices. Modern methods; use of hay, corn feeding, use of veterinary services and enclosures for pasture regeneration. The study concludes that there is limited integration of traditional and modern livestock keeping methods and it is hampered by several factors namely; insecurity, water scarcity, high cost of veterinary drugs, frequent drought, increased settlements. The study recommends; Action research to build and share knowledge on climate adaptation by pastoralists as its remains the most viable economic use of dry lands, strategic water development investment, subsidized veterinary services, fodder and reseeding rangelands and natural resource governance, disease surveillance and control, conflict management