Impacts of Climate Change on Sustainable Pastoralist Livelihoodsof Pokot Community in West Pokot County, Kenya

Abstract

West Pokot is among the adversely affected counties by climate extremes. The Pokot community is mainly pastoralist, whose mainstay is on livestock keeping, a very fragile livelihood to climate change shocks. The vulnerability of pastoralist to climate extremes has been exacerbated by frequent strike of climate change hazards. This has contributed to high poverty index among the residences, increased food insecurity, diminished livelihood, and reduced livestock production. In order to address this gap, the study examined the impacts of climate change on sustainable livelihood of pastoralist community in West Pokot County. The study was further guided by the following specific objectives: (1) to evaluate vulnerability of pastoralist Community to effects of climate change in West Pokot County, (2) to examine impact of climate change on livelihoods and livestock production in West Pokot County, (3) to evaluate community-based adaptation and coping strategies that pastoralists adopt to mitigate the impacts of climate change to pastoral livelihoods in West Pokot County, Kenya, (4) to evaluate the existing framework, policies and practices that enhance sustainability of the pastoral livelihood in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study used mixed method designs which included qualitative and quantitative data. The primary data sets consisted of 384 questionnaires for Household survey installed in ODK, 12 Key Informant Interviews and 8 Focus Group Discussions. Respondents at household level were selected through random sampling, while FGD and KII were selected through purposive sampling method .These data were complemented with secondary data from Standardized Precipitation Index and Vegetation Index cover for NDMA. Data at various points were analyzed using vulnerability and capacity tool, normalized difference Vegetation Index, frequencies, score and SPSS version 25. The results obtained from the analysis of the collected data were presented in forms of tables, charts, graphs and narratives. The study revealed that drought is the most threatening climate extreme in West Pokot, with pastoral livelihood zone being more susceptible. It was further noted that majority of residence in West Pokot County are pastoralist with 48%, agro-pastoralist at 32% and mixed farming at 20%. Additionally, pastoralists are highly exposed to effects of climate change, with 59.5% indicating high effects and 13.3% low effects. However, livestock body condition during climate extreme event shows that 71.4% was in deteriorating condition, 26.8% was in fair category and 1.8% was in good condition. Furthermore, the invasive and poisonous plant species had spread into grassland, and it was suppressing indigenous pastures germination and killing animals. The study also indicated that livestock was threatened

by livestock break diseases, pasture, and water shortage during drought period. Consequently, forest cover had rapidly reduced in the entire county with increased invasive plant species. Pastoralist were the most affected by climate extremes with 71.4% of the respondents indicating very high, while the mixed farming was found to be less affected with 12.2% of the respondents indicating very low. Furthermore, different livelihood zones were affected differently with pastoral zone reported to be adversely affected and it was found to be the most vulnerable zone. The study indicated that pastoralists adapt to climate change by practicing pasture management, conservation of crop residues as livestock feeds and designating seasonal grazing area, it was again found that pastoralist coping mechanism during drought period showed that 63.5% migrate and 35.2% stay at home, and 0.3% distribute to friends/relatives, for livestock diseases control. It further found that 45% of the respondents preferred livestock vaccination, 25% of the respondents appreciated regular dipping and spraying as effective in disease control. In terms of livestock breeds that are resilience to impacts of climate changes, respondents indicated 53.9% goats and 23.7% camels. The level of significance is between 90%-99% confidence level, with p-value of < 0.01. Sustainability of pastoralist can be achieved through pasture management, livestock breed diversification and livelihood diversification, enhanced disease surveillance and frequent livestock mass vaccination. These results would be useful in developing climate change action plan that can enhance the communities’ resilience to impacts of climate change. This study recommends for strengthening community capacity on livelihoods and livestock breed diversification and enhance pastoralist capacity on pasture establishment and rangeland management systems.