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Kenya's'¯Turkana'¯Herders Struggle to Survive in Cycle of Droughts, Floods

David Lomuria

   LODWAR, KENYA -
   For'¯nearly'¯a'¯decade,'¯herders'¯in'¯Kenya's'¯arid'¯northwest'¯have'¯d
   epended'¯on cash payments from the government to withstand a cycle of
   recurring severe droughts and floods. But herders say the payments
   don't always arrive on time, and climate change is making it harder for
   them to maintain their livelihood.

   Droughts'¯last'¯year'¯followed'¯by'¯heavy'¯floods'¯this'¯year'¯killed'¯
   thousands'¯of'¯animals'¯in'¯the'¯region.

   Philip'¯Lopili, who has'¯been'¯herding'¯sheep'¯and'¯goats
   for'¯more'¯than'¯60 years in Kenya's dry northwest Turkana County, says
   he lost 114 animals last year. Turkana's climate has changed for the
   worse, he added, and rainy seasons no longer arrive every six months,
   as they once did.

   Herder'¯Ruth'¯Akiru'¯says'¯it's'¯not'¯just'¯humans who are'¯suffering.

   When the trees dry up, the goats start dying, she said, adding that
   when the goats lack food, it also becomes harder for humans to survive.

   Kenya in 2012 introduced cash payments to help herders affected by
   extreme weather from global warming.

   But'¯the'¯herders'¯in'¯Turkana'¯say'¯the'¯money'¯doesn't'¯always'¯come'
   ¯when'¯needed.

   Kenya's National Droughts Management Authority says it lacks the money
   to help all the herders who are struggling.

   "We know what we are doing, we know where we are going," said James
   Oduor, chief executive of the agency. "But because of resources, we are
   a bit slow to achieve what we want. So resource is a big, big problem."

   In the meantime, herders like Akiru and Lopili can only wait for more
   support and hope for less extreme weather.

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