Skip to main content
Log in

Response to drought among farmers and herders in southern Kajiado District, Kenya

  • Published:
Human Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From 1972 to 1976 rainfall in Kajiado District of Kenya was below normal. The capacity of the farming and herding systems to cope with the consequent reduction in production is discussed within a context of changing land-use patterns and altered resource availability. It is concluded that land-use planning to allocate the available land and water resources and to promote off-farm employment is required to reduce the vulnerability of the population to future drought conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, R. (1980). “Sociological factors” in the commercialisation of cattle in Africa. Development Studies Discussion Paper No. 61. University of East Africa, Norwich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernsten, J. L. (1976). The Maasai and their neighbors: Variables and interaction.African Economic History 2: 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boserup, E. (1965).The Conditions of Agricultural Growth: The Economics of Agrarian Change under Population Pressure. Aldine, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulet, J. (1971).Magoumaz: Etude d'un Terroir de Montagne en Pays Mafa. Office de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique Outre-mer, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugnicourt, J. (1974)Un Peuple Privé de son Environnement. Programme “Formation Pour l'Environnement,” Institut Africain de Développment Economique et de Planification-United Nations Environment Programme-Swedish International Development Agency, Dakar.

  • Burton, E., Kates, R. W., and White G. F. (1978).The Environment as Hazard. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J. (1977) Strategies for coping with drought in the Sahel:. A study of recent population movements in the Department of Maradi, Niger. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clark University, Worcester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J. (1979a). Development or decline: Resources, land use and population growth in Kajiado District. Working Paper No. 352. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J. (1979b). Response to drought in Kenya Maasailand: pastoralists and farmers of the Loitokitok area, Kajiado District. Discussion Paper No. 267. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J. (1981). Land use competition at the margins of the rangelands: An issue in development strategies for semi-arid areas. In Norcliffe, G., and Pinfold, T. (eds.),Planning African Development. Croom Helm, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J., and Mbugua, E. S. (1978) Survey of land use problems in Kajiado District: A review of methodology. Working Paper No. 334. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. J., and Trechter, D. D. (1982). Strategies for coping with food consumption shortage in the Mandara Mountains region of North Cameroon.Social Science and Medicine, 16: 2117–2127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casebeer, R. L. (1975). Summaries of statistics and regulations pertaining to wildlife, parks and reserves in Kenya. Project Working Document No. 8. United Nations Development Programme-Food and Agriculture Organisation Wildlife Management Project, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comité Information Sahel (1975).Qut se Nourrit de la Famine en Afrique? Maspero, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copans, J. (ed.) (1975).Sécheresses et Famines du Sahel (2 vols.). Maspero, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, G., and Hjort, A. (1976).Having Herds: Pastoral Herd Growth and Household Economy. Stockholm Studies in Social Anthropology, University of Stockholm, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, G., and Hjort, A. (1979) Pastoral change and the role of drought.SAREC Report R2. Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalby, D., Harrison-Church, R. J., and Bezzaz, F. (eds.) (1977).Drought in Africa 2, African Environment Special Report No. 6. International African Institute, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. K. (1971). Some issues in the evolution, organization and operation of group ranches in Kenya.East African Journal of Rural Development 4 (1): 22–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupire, M. (1972). Les facteurs humaines de l'économie pastorale.Etudes Nigeriennes No. 6. Centre Nigerian de Recherche Sciences-Humaines, Niamey, Niger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freiere, P. (1973).Education for Critical Consciousness. Seabury Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann, J., and Weaver, C. (1979).Territory and Function: The Evolution of Regional Planning. Arnold, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galaty, J. (1980). The Maasai group-ranch: Politics and development in an African pastoral society. In Salzman, P. C. (ed.),When Nomads Settle: Processes of Sedentarization as Adaptation and Response. Praeger, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glantz, M. H. (ed.) (1976).The Politics of Natural Disaster: The Case of the Sahel Drought. Praeger, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt, W. (1981). An anthropological approach to economic development. In Galaty, J. G., Aronson, D., Salzman, P. C., and Chouinard, A. (eds.),The Future of Pastoral Peoples. International Development Research Center, Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Kenya (1947). Kajiado District, Annual Report, 1947 (mimeo).

  • Government of Kenya (1951). Kajiado District, Annual Report, 1951 (mimeo).

  • Government of Kenya (1979).Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Development in Kenya.The Framework for Implementation, Programme Planning and Evaluation. Government Printer, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Great Britain (1934).Report of the Kenya Land Commission, September 1933. His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halderman, J. M. (1972). Analysis of continued nomadism on the Kaputeie Maasai group ranches: Social and ecological factors. Discussion Paper No. 152. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankins, T. D. (1974). Response to drought in Sukumuland, Tanzania. In White, G. F. (ed.),Natural Hazards: Local, National, Global. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedlund, H. G. B. (1971). The impact of group ranches on a pastoral society. Staff Paper No. 100. Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heijnen, J., and Kates, R. W. (1974). Northeast Tanzania: Comparative observations along a moisture gradient. In White, G. F. (ed.),Natural Hazards: Local, National, Global. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, K. (ed.) (1983).Interpretations of Calamity from the Viewpoint of Human Ecology. Allen & Unwin Inc., Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hjort, A. (1981). Herds, trade and grain: Pastoralism in a regional perspective. In Galaty, J. G., Aronson, D., Salzman, P. C., and Chouinard, A. (eds.),The Future of Pastoral Peoples. International Development Research Center, Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahnke, H. E. (1978). An historical review of range development in Kenya.Course Notes, International Livestock Center for Africa, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lallemande, S. (1975). La sécheresse dans un village Mossi de Haute Volta. In Copans, J. (ed.),Sécheresses et Famines du Sahel (Vol. II). Maspero, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lofchie, M. F. (1975). Political and economic origins of African hunger.Journal of Modern African Studies 13 (4): 551–567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, H. D. (1968). Permanent farming on Ukara. The impact of land shortage on husbandry practices. In Ruthenberg, H. (ed.).Smallholder Farming and Smallholder Development in Tanzania. Weltforum Verlag, Munich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbithi, P., and Barnes, C. (1975).The Spontaneous Settlement Problem in Kenya. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCown, R. L., Haaland, G., and de Haan, C. (1979). The interaction between cultivation and livestock production in semi-arid Africa.Ecological Studies 34: 297–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, S. J., and White, J. (1979). Structure of the cattle herd and determinants of offtake rates in Kajiado District, Kenya 1962–1977.Pastoral Network Paper 7d. Overseas Development Institute, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meillassoux, C. (1974). Development or exploitation: Is the Sahel famine good for business?Review of African Political Economy 1: 27–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mott, F. L., and Mott, S. A. (1980). Kenya's record population growth: A dilemma of development.Population Bulletin 35(3).

  • Oguntoyinbo, J. S., and Richards, P. (1978). Drought and the Nigerian farmer.Journal of Arid Environments 1: 165–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ominde, S. H. (1971). The semi-arid and arid lands of Kenya. In Ominde, S. H. (ed.),Studies in East African Geography and Development. Heinemann, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigby, P. (1981). Theoretical implications of pastoral development strategies in East Africa. In Galaty, J. G., Aronson, D., Salzman, P. C., and Chouinard, A., (eds.),The Future of Pastoral Peoples. International Development Research Center, Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruthenberg, H. (1977). Some crucial aspects of future agricultural development in Kenya (mimeo). Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorrensen, M. P. K. (1967).Land Reform in the Kikuyu Country. Oxford University Press, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stöhr, W. B., and Fraser Taylor, D. R. (eds.) (1981).Development from Above or Below?The Dialectics of Regional Planning in Developing Countries. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thresher, P. (1976). Wildlife viewing cost/benefit simulation model. Volume 1: The main text.Project Working Document No. 14, United Nations Development Programme/Food and Agriculture Organization Wildlife Management Project, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Zwanenberg, R. M. A., and King, A. (1975).An Economic History of Kenya and Uganda 1800–1970. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Kaufman, R. (1976). The development of the rangeland areas. In Heyer, J., Maitha, J. K., and Senga, W. M. (eds.),Agricultural Development in Kenya: An Economic Assessment. Oxford University Press, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddell, E. (1977). The hazards of scientism: A review article.Human Ecology 5(1): 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasserman, G. (1976).Politics of Decolonization: Kenya Europeans and the Land Issue 1960–1965. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, M. (1983). On the poverty of theory: natural hazards research in context. In Hewitt, K. (ed.),Interpretations of Calamity from the Viewpoint of Human Ecology. Allen & Unwin Inc., Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western, D. (1975). Water availability and its influence on the structure and dynamics of a savannah large mammal community.East African Wildlife Journal 13: 265–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Western, D., and Dunne, T. (1979). Environmental aspects of settlement site decisions among pastoral Maasai.Human Ecology 7(1):-75–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, G. F. (ed.) (1974).Natural Hazards: Local, National, Global. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B. (1977). The human ecology of drought in eastern Kenya. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clark University, Worcester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B. (1981). Nutritional consequences of the articulation of capitalist and non-capitalist modes of production in Eastern Kenya.Rural Africans 8-9: 99–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B., and Mbithi, P. M. (1973). Drought in Eastern Kenya, comparative observations of nutritional status and farmer activity at 17 sites. Discussion Paper No. 167, Institute for Development Studies, Nairobi.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Campbell, D.J. Response to drought among farmers and herders in southern Kajiado District, Kenya. Hum Ecol 12, 35–64 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531283

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531283

Key words

Navigation