As the rains have failed for three years now, famine was declared a national disaster in Kenya on the 10th of January 2009. Livestock body conditions have drastically deteriorated, and many deaths have been reported among the populations. High food prices, livestock diseases, prevailing famine and conflict compounded the already precarious food security amongst the pastoralists. These factors have then constrained the pastoralists to quit their nomadic lifestyle and to settle in small and sedentary urban centres (such as Churo, East Pokot where ACTED is currently starting an emergency programme) in order to access relief supplies and other humanitarian assistance.
A SITUATION THAT FAVOURS CONFLICTS
Samburu and Pokot are two of the nomadic pastoralist communities who rely on livestock, mostly goats, camels and cattle, in the arid lowlands of the Northern part of Kenya for their livelihoods. Even though their nomadic way of life is mostly adapted to the harsh conditions of arid areas, conflict between different tribes for the predation of resources - mainly water and pasture - have appeared, especially during drought crises. Following a drought, which generally translates into huge losses among the herds, a traditional coping mechanism is 'cattle rustling', where either community who has lost animals raids the other to restock. In the past, local power structures, such as elder authorities, may have overcome this fatal trend by defining "pre-set periods to raid". The erosion of these traditional authorities and the proliferation of semi automatic rifles in recent years greatly aggravated conflicts between the two communities.
SUPPORT TO LIVELIHOODS
Livestock is the backbone of the pastoralist economy. A rudimentary livelihood source, it is coupled with the pastoralists' lack of knowledge and skills to explore alternative livelihoods. Hence, after their livestock are lost to droughts and conflicts, households are left completely destitute of all resources.
Against this backdrop, ACTED is implementing an emergency programme to alleviate the hunger crisis, reduce vulnerability through livelihoods support - notably alternative livelihoods -, as well as protect natural resources in the famine and conflict affected areas of East Pokot.
Among other objectives, the programme will improve dry-land farming practices and introduce irrigated agriculture to reinforce household food security and provide a sustainable alternative to the pastoralist vulnerable way of life. We also aim at protecting vital water sources, rehabilitating rangeland and encouraging livestock keepers to produce fodder in order to feed their livestock in case of emergency. Household sanitation and hygiene will as well be improved through hygiene promotion activities, water source chlorination and treatments backed up by capacity building. Economic recovery will be impacted through Cash for Work (CFW) scheme to strengthen household economy and procure temporary employment opportunities to the most vulnerable.
Although cultural factors can stimulate conflicts, the increased vulnerability of pastoral livelihoods and the availability of small arms have both contributed to reshaping conflict dynamics. Through the reduction of vulnerability and the building of sustainable alternative livelihoods, ACTED intends to limit 'cattle rustlings' among the Pokot community in the Churo division, East Pokot. In parallel, the long-term involvement and commitment of all stakeholders to pacifying and re-establishing communication between the communities are essential to create viable inter-community relations and to find sustainable coping solutions to drought.
Regional issue, regional initiatives
This relief project for pastoralist populations in the region of East Pokot in Kenya is part of ACTED's wider intervention in response to the acute drought affecting the Horn of Africa today. Thus, we are supporting Karamojong populations, pastoralist communities living on the other side of the border in Uganda, which are also deeply affected by drought: over 95% of the Karamoja region is food insecure or dependent on food aid. Our teams implement drought mitigation strategies, by providing support to traditional breeding activities, introducing new livelihoods and income generating activities while building the capacity of local actors in those fields as well as in forecasting and reacting to climate changes. Next to this cross-border approach between Uganda and Kenya, ACTED is also working on agricultural support activities for farmers in the regions of Gedo and Middle Juba in Somalia.
