Resource-based conflicts in drought-prone Northwestern Kenya : the drivers and mitigation mechanisms

The theory of “resource scarcity” dominates the debate on “ecoviolence” in pastoral areas, where conflicts among communities have traditionally been linked to competition over scarce resources and invariably drought because of its role in resource depletion. However, the notion that climate change and resultant resource scarcity directly prompt violent conflict has been challenged by the notion that conflict actually coincide with periods of resource abundance. These contesting views point to nondeterministic linkage between resource availability and conflicts and, therefore, the complexity of pastoral conflicts. This is the scenario hypothesized for the vast pastoral areas of Kenya where violent conflict has become a chronic characteristic. While focusing on drought-induced conflicts over grazing resources, this paper takes cognizance of other factors that trigger and perpetuate violent conflicts in arid north-western Kenya. We present an insight on the nature, causes, dynamics and mitigation strategies of conflicts between the Turkana and Pokot pastoralists based on research study focusing on the linkages between resource availability and conflict. The findings suggest that violent conflicts in pastoral areas result from a myriad of socio-cultural, economic and political factors that reinforce one another by limiting availability of, depleting and reducing access to natural resource base. Competition for scarce natural resources triggered by frequent droughts and exacerbated by weak local institutions, proliferation of small firearms, political incitements, unclear property right regimes and cattle-raiding, was considered central to the violent conflicts observed in the area. The authors conclude that developing integrated policies and strengthening local governance institutions that are rooted in traditional practices for managing resources and inter-community conflicts is integral to the solution

The canopy effects of Prosopis juliflora (DC) and Acacia tortilis (Hayne) trees on herbaceous plants species and soil physico-chemical properties in Njemps Flats, Kenya

The canopy effects of an exotic and indigenous tree species on soil properties and understorey herbaceous plant species were investigated on the Njemps Flats, Baringo district, Kenya. Samples of soil and herbaceous plant species were obtained within the canopies of systematically selected P. juliflora (exotic) and A. tortilis (indigenous) trees, and from adjacent open areas. Standing biomass, frequency and cover of understorey plant species were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the open area than under the canopies. Cover for herbaceous plant species was 63% under P. juliflora, 82% under A. tortilis and 90% in open areas. All forbs occurred under the canopies indicating that they are more adapted to the shaded micro environments than grasses. Soils under the tree canopies had significantly (P<0.05) higher organic carbon and total nitrogen than those in adjacent open areas. Soils under A. tortilis had significantly (P<0.05) higher organic carbon and total nitrogen than soils from under P. juliflora. The results suggested that A. tortilis trees are more beneficial to soil physical and chemical properties than P. juliflora. Accordingly, the common practice of clearing woody trees indiscriminately to improve grassland for livestock production or for crop cultivation should not be recommended

Spatial Soil Loss Assessment Using USLE in Lake Ol Bolossat Catchment

Erosion by water is one of the most common types of soil degradation which occurs in all climatic regions and is widely considered to be a serious threat to the long-term viability of agriculture in many parts of the world. Lake Ol Bolossat in Nyandarua County, Kenya, is a high altitude lake that was formed on Rift Valley escarpment and faces the challenge of siltation due to increased soil erosion. Over the last few decades, the lake has been encroached and lake area has been overgrazed reducing the vegetation cover around the Lake. An assessment of spatial soil erosion loss was conducted using USLE model and GIS which showed that most parts of the Lake catchment have soil loss beyond tolerable levels of nine tons per year. The soil erosion range was between zero and 22, 525.5 tons per year. The land uses that were more vulnerable to soil loss are croplands, grazing lands with sparse vegetation and barelands which had soil loss ranges of 10–50 tons, 100 to 1000 tons and 500 to 22,525.5 tons per year respectively. The study recommended for immediate interventions by policy makers, researchers and development partners in curbing the soil loss problem

Climate forecast information : the status, needs and expectations among smallholder agro-pastoralists in Machakos District, Kenya

The potential use of seasonal climate forecasts in farm and resource management has been studied in a number of cultural contexts around the world. Many of these studies reveal difficulties that smallholders encounter in accessing, interpreting and applying forecasts for their own benefit. This study looked at the awareness of and usage of climate forecast information in central Kenya in the aftermath of the 1997/98 El Niño event. Household surveys were conducted in Machakos District, Kenya, in January 2001. Retrospective and concurrent awareness and application of seasonal forecast information was assessed for 240 households across a range of agro ecological zones. The results show high degree of awareness and use of forecasts. Farmers discussed both actual and potential application of forecasts for both above-normal and below-normal rainfall. The influence of the El Niño tendency to increase the rainfall as in the case of 1997/98 El Niño was clear from their emphasis on strategies to mitigate the impacts of above-or below-normal rainfall. Applications of information in both crop and livestock management are documented. Constraints still exist, such as interpretation of information, relevance of the variables forecast to the management decisions of concern, confidence in the forecasts, and timely and affordable access to resources such as seeds. We suggest that collaborative efforts between the forecast providers and the users of information may be directed towards addressing these constraints. For instance in case of abnormal phenomenon such as droughts or floods, forecasts can be closely followed by early warning campaigns with clear guidelines of how to prepare, distributed through the FM radio in local languages order to abate human suffering

Resource use planning under climate change: experience from Turkana and Pokot pastoralists of Northwestern Kenya

There is a growing concern over access to dry season grazing pasture and water in the arid and drought prone areas of North-western Kenya, where pastoralist communities are constrained by poor access to basic services. This is being exacerbated by the effects of climate variability and climate change which have contributed to depletion of livestock-based livelihoods resulting to reduced mobility of livestock and thus disrupting the process of adjustment that maintains the balance between people, livestock and the environment. This paper present the experiences and lessons learned in resource use planning process amongst the Turkana and Pokot pastoralists with special focus on how to increase sustainable access pasture and water. The experiences documented were implemented within year one of the Drought Mitigation Initiative project. Land use plans and inter-community reciprocal grazing agreements were developed to include land rights and cross-boundary resource use. Constrains to resource use planning in the region were identified to include environmental, socio-economic, institutional and legal. Policy backed resource use planning as enshrined in the Draft National Land Policy is the most suitable approach to govern use of limited resources in the rangelands, and to negotiate over tenure, access and resources stewardship rights

The effects of enclosures for rehabilitating degraded semi-arid rangeland in Lake Baringo Basin Kenya

Restoring the indigenous vegetation inside enclosures has become an important management strategy to combat the severe degradation in the semi-arid rangelands of Kenya. The establishment of enclosures, denoting areas closed off from cultivation and grazing for a specific period, is a well-known management tool for restoring degraded rangeland ecosystems. Rangeland enclosure has profound ecological (biophysical) effects and a number of socioeconomic implications that vary significantly, depending on local conditions. Understanding the consequences of the rising trend of rangeland enclosure has been shown to be imperative. Indeed, what administrators require is not a general policy for or against enclosure, but rather some understanding of the various effects of enclosure under different circumstances. Ultimately, researchers may be able to present policy-makers with a typology of different kinds of enclosure movements, and with a systematic discussion of the probable outcome of each kind of movement. Therefore, the spontaneous enclosure of the range by livestock owners may raise new problems, but may also permit new approaches to the development of the dryland livestock industry in Africa. This paper seeks to highlight the effects and implications of using enclosures for rehabilitating degraded rangelands and draw practical lessons to help us achieve increased restoration capability in the future