Herders desperate as dry spell bites

The scorching sun and the clear blue sky diminish the hopes of herders by the day.


Their animals are frail, sickly and dying. They keep hope alive that their next destination might have green pasture.


Thousands of herders from as far as Isiolo and Laikipia North are moving towards the foot of Mount Kenya so that their animals may feed.


But authorities have warned them of dire consequences should they graze in the water towers.


In what is a perennial battle, tension is already simmering between the pastoralists and farmers, who fear the animals may soon invade their farms.
The rain gods are not about to smile down on the livestock keepers, going by the latest Kenya Food Security update.


According to the report, rangeland conditions are expected to deteriorate faster than normal during the dry season from January to March.


Dry areas, including Merti Sub-county in Isiolo, Daadab Sub-county in Garissa and Hadado and Sebule Sub-counties in Wajir will likely be in a crisis through March, the report predicts.


The National Drought Management Authority has also released a report that says the pasture is inadequate to meet the needs of the regions’ livestock.


The situation was occasioned by the vagaries of the weather, like long spells of sunny conditions, strong winds, cold and chilly nights which have led to frequent frost attacks.


Liarisin Lekumoisa, a Samburu moran (warrior) has been on a journey for the past one month.


With other morans, they have had to go over hills and down valleys; dodge security officers during the day and keep safe from hyenas marauding in the night, all in the name of pasture.


PRICES HAVE TUMBLED


More hurting for him is that the prices for his emaciated stock have tumbled and middle men are exploiting their desperation to make a killing.


“A bull that used to fetch Sh30,000 two months ago now goes for as low as Sh5,000,” he says. “There are unscrupulous people who know that we fear losing our herds so they offer (prices) as low as possible so that they can make a kill at the butcheries in nearby towns.”


At a makeshift manyatta near Nanyuki Town, he displays a pile of bones, the remains of at least three of his animals that have died since he camped at the spot two days ago.


Daud Abdi has been moving with is more than 200 camels. Each day, it becomes more expensive to feed them.


Ranchers charge them Sh4,000 per week for every 20 camels allowed to graze in the ranches, he says. “But this is becoming too expensive because I have over 200 of them. God willing, I will sell about 20 when I get a good ranch so that they can feed.”


He says one camel costs an average of Sh120,000 and he is optimistic that by disposing of about 20 of them, he will be able to sustain his herd through the dry season.


Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani has raised the alarm that the herders are at risk of their stocks being wiped out, not only due to the harsh weather but also by diseases that they are likely to pick up along the migratory routes.


“As the pastoralists move, they have limited access to veterinary services. They also come into contact with animals from various regions, at water points. This exposes them to risks in case of a disease outbreak,” the governor says.

The scorching sun and the clear blue sky diminish the hopes of herders by the day.


Their animals are frail, sickly and dying. They keep hope alive that their next destination might have green pasture.


Thousands of herders from as far as Isiolo and Laikipia North are moving towards the foot of Mount Kenya so that their animals may feed.


But authorities have warned them of dire consequences should they graze in the water towers.


In what is a perennial battle, tension is already simmering between the pastoralists and farmers, who fear the animals may soon invade their farms.
The rain gods are not about to smile down on the livestock keepers, going by the latest Kenya Food Security update.


According to the report, rangeland conditions are expected to deteriorate faster than normal during the dry season from January to March.


Dry areas, including Merti Sub-county in Isiolo, Daadab Sub-county in Garissa and Hadado and Sebule Sub-counties in Wajir will likely be in a crisis through March, the report predicts.


The National Drought Management Authority has also released a report that says the pasture is inadequate to meet the needs of the regions’ livestock.


The situation was occasioned by the vagaries of the weather, like long spells of sunny conditions, strong winds, cold and chilly nights which have led to frequent frost attacks.


Liarisin Lekumoisa, a Samburu moran (warrior) has been on a journey for the past one month.


With other morans, they have had to go over hills and down valleys; dodge security officers during the day and keep safe from hyenas marauding in the night, all in the name of pasture.


PRICES HAVE TUMBLED


More hurting for him is that the prices for his emaciated stock have tumbled and middle men are exploiting their desperation to make a killing.


“A bull that used to fetch Sh30,000 two months ago now goes for as low as Sh5,000,” he says. “There are unscrupulous people who know that we fear losing our herds so they offer (prices) as low as possible so that they can make a kill at the butcheries in nearby towns.”


At a makeshift manyatta near Nanyuki Town, he displays a pile of bones, the remains of at least three of his animals that have died since he camped at the spot two days ago.


Daud Abdi has been moving with is more than 200 camels. Each day, it becomes more expensive to feed them.


Ranchers charge them Sh4,000 per week for every 20 camels allowed to graze in the ranches, he says. “But this is becoming too expensive because I have over 200 of them. God willing, I will sell about 20 when I get a good ranch so that they can feed.”


He says one camel costs an average of Sh120,000 and he is optimistic that by disposing of about 20 of them, he will be able to sustain his herd through the dry season.


Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani has raised the alarm that the herders are at risk of their stocks being wiped out, not only due to the harsh weather but also by diseases that they are likely to pick up along the migratory routes.


“As the pastoralists move, they have limited access to veterinary services. They also come into contact with animals from various regions, at water points. This exposes them to risks in case of a disease outbreak,” the governor says.

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