| dc.description.abstract | Pastoral communities in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya live with the expectation of drought. They continue to suffer, and arguably increasingly suffer, catastrophic losses of livestock (capital and savings) during drought. The impact of drought is particularly acute for poorer members of communities with smaller livestock holdings and less developed social support networks. The study attempted to report the coping strategies at the household level during drought among the pastoralists living in Garbatulla district in Isiolo County. The study was based on both quantitative and qualitative data collected from households and key-informants in the community. These data were based on the coping strategies during past droughts.
During this period, the pastoralists of this area have implemented a range of coping strategies to reduce their vulnerability. Among the ones highlighted include income earning, herd splitting, changing species composition, selling of livestock and mobility. At the household level, pastoralists relied on famine relief in terms of relief food. Majority of people in this area changed their occupation, as agriculture is failed due to drought. Various studies from other drought prone areas were reviewed and discussed briefly in the light of present study results.
The study recommended as a matter of policy firm drought measures and strategies to be established to mitigate the persistent drought by the Government and other Stakeholders. In addition, education on drought and risk reduction management should also be provided which should be an interactive process of mutual learning among people and institutions. | en_US |
