Management of Climate Changes in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

This study dealt with management of climate changes in Turkana County, Kenya. The study used the descriptive design. The target population was 200 household-heads identified from Loima and Turkwel Wards. A sample of 60 household-heads was randomly drawn to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data while an interview collect the quantitative data. The study concluded that pastoralist communities relied on traditional interventions to cope with effects of climate change. Practiced traditional interventions include migration of people and livestock to other areas presumed to be having more supply of pasture and water and livelihood diversification. Inter-community conflicts over grazing right is the key factor that hindered the implementation of climate change interventions. Other hindering factors include migration of people and livestock, politicians’ exploitation of the pastoralist communities and food insecurity. Experienced challenges include cultural values, illiteracy, lack of trust between facilitators and the community, wrong approach and interventions being done by strangers. The study recommends that development agencies need to work in collaboration with communities to develop and implement interventions against climate change. Pastoral communities need to access relevant information on climate change through attending seminars, workshops and public meetings. Relevant stakeholders should help the pastoralist communities to overcome their unique challenges through community-based seminars and workshops. Finally, the government and other development agencies should focus on the development of pastoralist communities in the country by investing in adult education to reduce illiteracy.