dc.description.abstract | The pastoralists communities mostly inhabiting the ASALs regions have been affected by
drought since their economic activity is livestock keeping which is affected by drought
due to lack of rainfall that reduces water and forage availability. The current ability of
pastoralists to respond to drought is limited increasing frequency of drought, increasing
population, a dwindling resource base, conflict, changes in access to land and water, as
well as the impact of other shocks such as flooding and disease outbreaks. Despite the
numerous studies documented on the disaster risk project management, the political,
economic and social marginalization of most pastoralists, decades of adverse national
policies which have restricted their access to key natural resources, increased frequency
and intensity of climate shocks such as drought, and endemic conflict have all contributed
to significantly undermine their resilience. The purpose of this study was to investigate
the influence of pastoralist drought management practices on their livelihoods in Isiolo
North Sub-County, Kenya. This study sought to investigate the effects of drought
contingency planning, drought relief strategy, rehabilitation mechanism and policies for
drought resilience on pastoralists’ livelihoods in Isiolo North Sub-County. The research
was designed as a cross sectional descriptive study. The target respondents included
household heads and key informants who include local leaders (usually local chiefs,
elders, community/clan leaders), livestock officers, NDMA, politicians and County
Government officials), pastoralists from Isiolo North Sub- County and civil society
personnel. According to Krejcie and Morgan (1970), a sample corresponding to the target
population of 14,325 is 375 households. In addition, five government technical staff and
five stakeholders’ key informants were included making a total sample of 384
respondents. The researcher relied on questionnaires for household heads while the key
informants were interviewed. Qualitative data was analyzed using frequencies
percentages, means and standard deviations. Multivariate regression was undertaken to
test the relationship between the variables and enable the researcher generalize results
from the sample to the population. Tables and figures were used to present the data. The
study found that most of the areas in Isiolo North Sub County are frequently struck by
drought and water scarcity putting the pastoralists at a great drought disaster. The study
deduces that the pastoralists are familiar with drought contingency planning. Drought
relief strategy affects drought disaster risk reduction in Isiolo North. The pastoralists are
knowledgeable about rehabilitation mechanism as a mitigation strategy. The study
ascertained that rehabilitation mechanism as a mitigation strategy is not carried at the
right time of the drought cycle. The study recommends the community, planners,
professionals and the implementers of drought disaster risk management need to realize
and rise to the awakening that drought affected people have the learning and the strength
to develop coping and survivability capacities. There is a need to enhance community
communication and feedback mechanism in the county. The study also recommends that
the government of Kenya and development agencies working in the area need to invest in
the provision of credit facilities to the pastoralists to assist them in coping with droughts.
The study recommends funds should be allocated for effective supplementary feeding
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