Effects of cattle rustling and household characteristics on migration decisions and herd size amongst pastoralists in Baringo District, Kenya

Abstract

Pastoral communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of Kenya depend on livestock for their livelihood. However, these ASALs are characterized by temporal and spatial climatic variation, making availability of resources uneven. Mobility is a key strategy used by pastoralists to efficiently utilize available resources, notably pasture and water. This strategy is being interrupted by a vicious cycle of livestock rustling/raiding. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of livestock rustling and other household characteristics on migration decisions and herd size amongst pastoralists in Baringo District in Kenya. A sample of 110 pastoralists were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Binary probit model was used to explain the probability of migrating while ordinary least square was used to explain effects on herd size. Gender and age of the household head are significant (P < 0.1 and P < 0.05, respectively) determinants of migration, whereas both also significantly (P < 0.1) influenced herd size. Intensity of rustling, and loss of livestock to drought and/or disease also significantly (P < 0.01) influence the decision to migrate. Level of education had significant (P < 0.1) and negative influence on herd size, whereas size of household had significant (P < 0.01) and positive impact on herd size. Nonlivestock income had significant (P < 0.05) and negative influence on migration and herd size. The practice of livestock rustling, rampant amongst pastoralist communities in Kenya and sometimes occurs across borders, influences pastoralists' decision to migrate and also their herd sizes. It destabilizes communities and undermines their normal livelihood strategies, thus contributing to increased poverty. Increasing the level of development in pastoral areas and formulation of appropriate policies will help in controlling the rustling menace.

Dairy production systems and the adoption of genetic and breeding technologies in Tanzania, Kenya, India and Nicaragua

“…In more extensive systems of Eastern Africa, the use of bulls, mostly of the local B. indicus breeds, remains common practice (Kaimba, Njehia and Guliye, 2011).…”

Impacts of long-term land-use changes on herd size and mobility among pastoral households in Amboseli ecosystem, Kenya

“…The rangelands covering nearly half of the total land surface in Africa support extensive livestock production and wildlife conservation (Nyariki et al 2009;Kaimba et al 2011;Nkedianye et al 2011;Bekele and Kabede 2014). Pastoralism, characterized by herd mobility to track grazing water resources in space and time, has been the dominant livelihood strategy in these ecosystems, supporting millions of people (Nkedianye et al 2011;Tefera 2014;Berhanu and Beyene 2015).…”

“…The resource dynamics have consequently impacted on the livestock base as a key pastoral economy which traditionally provided multiple functions. The fundamental functions of pastoral herds include regular provision of food in form of meat, milk, and blood, as well as cash income, measure of exchange in terms of dowry, compensation of injured persons during raid, symbol of wealth and prosperity and security against droughts, disease outbreaks, and other rangeland calamities (Nyariki et al 2009;Kaimba et al 2011;Opiyo et al 2011;Schilling et al 2012). …”

Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda

“…Goats are however known for their generalist feeding habits and high forage consumption; this led to pasture degradation and reduced availability (Animut et al 2005;Singh et al 2013). In addition, prolonged livestock movement into grazing lands and watering around settled areas have been observed to decrease pasture availability among the Baringo pastoralists of Kenya (Kaimba et al 2011). Further, increased stocking density caused by influx of migrant livestock led to forage shortage in the Kitengela plains of Kenya (Nkedianye et al 2011).…”

“…On the other hand, shifts in land use from livestock grazing to crop farming and settlements have a two-prong influence: first, vegetation cover and diversity is reduced, and second, seasonal livestock movements vital for the exploitation of spatio-temporally distributed rangeland resources are disrupted (Byakagaba 2005;Sulieman and Ahmed 2013). Consequently, the resulting forage unavailability in space and time leads to negative repercussions among others: livestock deaths, conflicts and loss of pastoral resilience (Kaimba et al 2011;Nkedianye et al 2011).…”