TITLE:
Demographic Influences on Drought Coping Strategies among Pastoralists in Kirisia Watershed, Samburu County, Kenya
AUTHORS:
John L. Owuoth, Raphael Kweyu, Anthony Macharia
KEYWORDS:
Meteorological Drought, Pastoral Households, Coping Strategies, Kirisia Watershed
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.7,
July
24,
2025
ABSTRACT: Meteorological drought poses significant challenges to pastoral households in Kenyan Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, yet remains understudied. This study examined pastoral household coping strategies and their demographic associations in response to meteorological drought in Kirisia watershed, Samburu County. Using purposive sampling, 70 pastoral households were surveyed to identify drought coping strategies and analyze associations with demographic characteristics. Results revealed that relief assistance was the most prevalent coping strategy (25.71%), followed by livestock migration (24.29%), fodder purchasing and household migration (15.71% each). Economic diversification strategies, including business engagement (8.58%) and urban employment migration (7.14%), showed limited adoption. There were demonstrably significant associations between demographic factors and strategy selection, with marital status influencing fodder purchasing and business engagement, while age and education strongly predicted household migration and entrepreneurial activities. Pastoral households perceived worsening drought conditions, with extended droughts being the primary concern, alongside increasing frequency and shifting patterns. The study findings indicate growing external aid dependency as traditional coping mechanisms become inadequate under increasingly erratic drought patterns. Limited formal educational attainment and smaller household sizes constrain adaptive capacity and drought resilience. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions that address demographic barriers while strengthening sustainable drought adaptation strategies in pastoral systems.