Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability by Amboseli Ecosystem Households in Kajiado County, Kenya
Abstract
The Amboseli ecosystem has been made fragile by climate related challenges causing household vulnerability. As a result, the pastoral community has had to put in place mechanisms to cope and reduce vulnerability. The aim of this study was to determine the adaptation strategies at the household level and how effective they were at minimizing risks at the household level. The study used a mixed method, which focused on descriptive and correlational research designs. It targeted a population of 47, 058 residents from which a sample of 374 households was selected. Cluster and convenient sampling were used for quantitative and qualitative data respectively. A questionnaire with open and closed ended questions and with Likert scale format were used to collect quantitative data while interview schedules were used for qualitative data. Qualitative data was collected from interview schedules with key informants. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse qualitative data while quantitative data were analysed using inferential statistics Results showed that climate variability is indeed causing livelihood vulnerability and thus the need for intervention inform of adaptation strategies by the individual households, community and at the national and county levels. This study recommends livestock diversification, crop farming small scale businesses and employment of household members so as to reduce vulnerability and live decent lives. In addition, there is need to empower women through education, offering of small loans and grants for businesses as well as involvement in decision making on matters pasture and water management
Downloads
References
Abate, T. (2016). Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Climate Change and Adaptation, Response in Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Earth Science and Climate Change, 7(11), 1-9.
ACTED. (2011). Rapid Needs Assessment of Mandera, Marsabit and Wajiir Counties – North-East Province. Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED).
Adano, W R; Witsenburg, K M. (2004). Once nomads settle: assessing the process, motives and welfare changes on Mount Marsabit. Agro-forestry Centre (ICRAF).
Boko, M., Niang, I., Nyong, A., Vogel, C., Githeko, A., Medany, M., Osman-Elasha, B., Tabo, R. & Yanda, P. (2007). Africa. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. In Parry, M. L., Canziani, O. F., Palutikof, J. P., Van der Linden, P. J. & Hanson, C.E. (Eds.) Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brooks, N. (2006). Climate Change, Drought, and Pastoralism in the Sahel. Discussion Note for the World Initiative on Sustainable Pastoralism.
Christensen, L., Coughenour, M., Ellis, J. E., & Chen, Z. Z. (2004). Vulnerability of the Asian typical steppe to grazing and climate change. Climatic Change, 63(3), 351-368.
Daze, A. (2012). Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity in Garissa County, Kenya. Adaptation Learning Program and CARE International.
Duguma, D. W. (2013). Adaptation of pastoralists to climate variability: The case of the Karrayu pastoralists' community in Upper Awash Valley of Ethiopia (Master's thesis).
Eriksen, H.S., and Marin, A. (2011). Pastoral Pathways: Climate Change Adaptation Lessons from Ethiopia. Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Noragric Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
GebreMichael, Y., Bayer, W. & Waters-Bayer, A. (2010). Emerging Responses to Climate Change in Pastoral Systems. Rural Development News 2.
Gebresenbet, F., & Kefale, A. (2012). Traditonal Coping Mechanisms for Climate Change of Pastoralists. 11 (4), 573 - 579.
Huq, S., & Reid, H. (2004). Mainstreaming adaptation in development.
IPCC. (2014). Climate change 2014: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Kagunyu, A. W. (2014). Effects of climate variability on the livelihoods and coping
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). Kenya population and housing census. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nairobi
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques. New Age International.
Kihila, J. M. (2018). Indigenous coping and adaptation strategies to climate change of local communities in Tanzania: a review. Climate and Development, 10(5), 406-416.
Macchi, M. (2008). Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Climate Change. IUCN, 1-66.
Mulo, W. (2016). Effects of Climate Variability on Livestock Production and Coping Strategies in Maikona Location
Ndikumana, L. (2000). Financial determinants of domestic investment in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from panel data. World development, 28(2), 381-400.
Ombogo, M. O. (2013). The Impact of Climate Variability on Pastoralism: forage dynamics and trends in cattle population in Kajiado county. Nairobi.
Omolo. N. A. (2010). Gender, Pastoralism, and Climate Change: Vulnerability and Adaptation in Northern Kenya. Final Technical Report. Retrieved from: http://start.org/download/accfp/omolo-final.pdf
Opiyo, F. E., Wasonga, O. V., & Nyangito, M. M. (2014). Measuring household vulnerability to climate-induced stresses in pastoral rangelands of Kenya: Implications for resilience programming. Pastoralism, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-014-0010-9
Riche, B., Hachileka, E., Awuor, C.B., & Hammill, A. (2009). Climate-Related Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity in Ethiopia’s Borana and Somali Communities. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1-83.
Thomas, D., & Twyman, C. (2005). Equity and justice in climate change adaptation amongst natural-resource-dependent societies. Global environmental change, 115-124.
Thornton, P. K., Jones, P. G., Owiyo, T., Kruska, R. L., Herrero, M., Orindi, V., ... & Omolo, A. (2008). Climate change and poverty in Africa: Mapping hotspots of vulnerability. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2(1), 24-44.
UNDP, UNCCD & UNEP. (2009). Climate Change in the African Drylands: Options and Opportunities for Adaptation and Mitigation. UNON Publishing Services Section, Nairobi.
Copyright (c) 2024 Faith Resiato Oloitipitip, Ezekiel Ndunda, Cecilia M. Gichuki
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
