Pastoralists’ Socioecological Trends: The Case of Laikipia County in Kenya

Abstract

Pastoralism is a complete way of life involving ecological, political, economic and social dimensions, and is dependent on a continuous balance of diverse factors. However, pastoral systems are faced with emerging and accelerating shocks and stresses that challenge their resilience and the ability to meet household livelihood needs sustainably. In response to these pressures, pastoralist socioecological systems in Africa are undergoing a process of rapid transformation that is marked by positive and negative socio-ecological trends. This study, therefore, analyzed the socioecological trends of pastoral systems with a focus on Laikipia County, Kenya. The study used a participatory action research design and multi-stage sampling design. Data collection and analysis were done using the participatory trend analysis method, while Mann-Kendall Z Test and Kendall’s correlation coefficient were used to test the trends and their relationships. This study finds that pastoralists’ culture and lifestyles are changing as shown by the negative trend in observation of cultural practices (Z = - 4.22, P<0.001) and effectiveness of customary governance systems (Z = - 0.401, P<0.001). Secondly, although the total number of livestock is increasing (Z = 3.11, P<0.01), there is a downward trend in the livestock holding per household (Z = -3.83, P<0.001), and, hence increasing diversification to non-pastoral livelihoods (Z = 4.28, P<0.001). These changes are caused by the growing pressure on pastoral resources and ecological stresses due to various factors, including the increasing human population (Z = 4.22, P<0.001), land degradation (Z = 4.17, P<0.001), and climate change and variability (Z = 4.05, P<0.001). Therefore, the study enabled an understanding of pastoralists’ socioecological trends and the underlying drivers. Moreover, the study showed the impacts of the drivers, their feedback on each other, and the responses of the pastoral system. The study will strengthen pastoral development planning and policy-making processes.