Assessing Sustainability of Pastoralism Under a Changing Climate in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

The study was conducted in Kajiado County to assess the sustainability of pastoralism under a changing climate. The specific objectives were to analyse trends in climate and livestock disease occurrence in Kajiado County, identify impacts and challenges facing pastoralism as a production system, opportunities and adaptation measures applied by Maasai pastoralists to mitigate impacts of climate change and variability in Kajiado County. The primary data was collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and expert opinion interviews while the secondary data was from the Kenya Meteorological Services and the Department of Veterinary Services in Kajiado. Quantitative data on rainfall, temperature and livestock disease incidence and interventions were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics measures while qualitative data on rainfall, temperature and livestock disease incidence and interventions were analysed through content analysis. Data on adaptation strategies and livestock disease prevalence was analysed through analysis of the scores using Kruskall-Wallis h test while the data on challenges and opportunities were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings indicated that there was no evidence to show that annual temperature and rainfall figures had changed significantly between 1970 to 2015 (P > 0.05) but there was variability in both temperature and rainfall figures with the coefficient of variation increasing from 21.6% (1970 to 1993) to 32.02% (1994 to 2015) for the rainfall and the coefficient of variation for temperature increasing from 2.6% (1970 to 1993) to 4.04% (1994 to 2015). Diseases that significantly affected livestock included east coast fever, foot and mouth disease and anthrax and black quarter, peste des petits ruminants and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (Z > 1.96). The findings further showed that the impacts of climate change and variability on the Maasai pastoralist community were characterised by increased incidences of livestock diseases, massive livestock deaths and the challenges affecting pastoralist communities included unavailability of veterinary vaccines and drugs, high cost of vaccines and drugs, among others. The adaptation measure that was frequently implemented by pastoralist during flooding was livestock vaccination and mass treatment of sick animals (Z >1.96 while while the most frequently implemented adaptation measures during drought periods included migration (Z=1.51) and livestock vaccination and treatment of sick livestock (Z=1.08). The study has shown that there is climate variability that is significantly impacting on sources of livelihood for the pastoralists who in turn are implementing several adaptation measures. It recommends formulation and implementation of appropriate plans and policies that are focussed on supporting resilience of the vulnerable pastoral community in Kajiado County.