Francis Opiyo|Oliver Vivian Wasonga|Moses Nyangito|Janpeter Schilling|Richard Munang
Drought Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among the Turkana Pastoralists of Northern Kenya
University of Nairobi|University of Nairobi|University of Nairobi|United Nations Environment Programme
study highlights drought characteristics many responses drought stresses employed turkana pastoralists northwestern kenya multiple data sources including socioeconomic interviews 302 households focus group discussions informal interviews pastoralists used capture various aspects drought drought adaptation coping practices standardized precipitation index derived longterm rainfall data obtained kenya meteorological service used quantify different degrees drought intensity 1950 2012 results revealed extreme drought events increasingly frequent impacted negatively pastoral livelihoods order adapt cope climatic anomalies households using variety strategies addition traditional shortterm coping mechanisms longterm adaptation strategies used include diversification livelihood sources livestock mobility track forage water resources diversification herd composition benefit varied drought disease tolerance well fecundity diverse livestock species sending children school formal education long term investment expected pay back income employment policies development interventions reduce risks diminish livelihood constraints expand opportunities increased household resilience drought critical complements existing pastoral strategies