Research
Drought reshapes livelihoods of Kenya’s Daasanach pastoralists, study finds
Mongabay · By David Brown ·
The Brief
- The Daasanach pastoralists of the Turkana Basin in northern Kenya experienced the worst drought in 40 years, from November 2020 to March 2023.
- The Daasanach have lived semi-nomadically for roughly 6,000 years, relying on livestock including cows.
- A study reports that the drought has reshaped their livelihoods.
Why it matters
The study documents how a severe, multi-year drought changed the livelihood of a long-established pastoralist community, which is relevant to research on drought impacts on pastoral systems in East Africa.
Who’s affected
- researchers studying drought and climate impacts on pastoralist societies
- policymakers and aid planners working in drought-prone northern Kenya
- #drought
- #pastoralism
- #kenya
- #livelihoods
- #climate impacts
The Daasanach people in the Turkana Basin of northern Kenya experienced the worst drought in 40 years between November 2020 and March 2023. The Daasanach are pastoralists who have lived semi-nomadically for roughly 6,000 years, supported by herds of livestock including cows…