Understanding the Coping Mechanisms Adopted by Pastoralists in the Context of Recurring Drought. A Case Study of Marsabit County, Kenya

With the increase and severity of drought events, there is need to identify and strengthen the capacities of the pastoralists to enable them to better deal with the adverse impacts of climate change. The purpose of this study is to build on the existing literature focussed on the coping mechanisms adopted by pastoralists that have enabled them to mitigate the negative effects of the drought over the years. This research also seeks to identify the factors that determine the choice of the coping mechanisms in the context of recurring drought events. The dissertation begins with a review of literature within the pastoral discourse examining the pastoral system, the various coping mechanisms adopted during drought events and determinants of the decision making process for pastoralists. Primary qualitative research was conducted in Marsabit County with the aim of collecting the personal experiences of drought affected men and women through narratives with a focus on the 2017 drought. The narratives were used to illustrate the coping mechanism adopted by pastoralists during the drought with the aim of protecting their livelihoods. The findings of the research provides new insight into the pastoral discourse by shedding light on three major elements including gender dynamics, risk perception and value of animals informed by the pastoral rationale informs the choice coping mechanisms adopted by pastoralists with the aim of protecting their livelihoods during drought events. In addition, field research acknowledges the existing capacities of pastoralists and highlights the need to adopt a culturally sensitive lens when engaging with them. This understanding enables efforts channelled towards building pastoralists’ resilience to the recurring, droughts to have far greater positive impacts especially in light of future climate changes