Factors Influencing Management Of Rangelands By Pastoral Communities In Gotu, Ngaremara Ward, Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

Isiolo County, Kenya is made up of different communities that include Ameru, Borana, Gabra, Somali, Samburu and Turkana, who practice agropastoralism as a means of earning their livelihood. This form of livelihood is adequately supported by their physical environment which is categorized as rangeland. Rangelands are described as natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts which are crucial sources of water, mineral resources, and wood products. This type of environment forms 85% of land surface in Kenya and is ideal for livestock production in the form of pastoralism. In recent times however, the Kenyan pastoralist has faced emerging challenges that include expansion of farming into rangelands through new agricultural practices; nationalization of land by governments; increased size of population increase; overgrazing; and indiscriminate water development. These problems have been compounded by a relentless series of droughts and conflicts. These external pressures have contributed to pasture shortages, land degradation, and socio-economic disintegration. Due to these challenges, pastoralists have been forced to diversify their forms of livelihood, although many still use yesteryear forms of livestock management. This study aimed to examine the factors that influence management of rangelands by Kenyan pastoral communities particularly in Gotu area in Ngare Mara Ward, Isiolo County. The study was guided by the following research objectives: To establish the influence of size of livestock herd on management of rangelands in Gotu area; to examine the influence of community management structures on management of rangelands in Gotu area; to determine the influence of government support on management of rangelands in Gotu area; to establish the influence of socioeconomic status of community on management of rangelands in Gotu area. The study targeted all the male and female inhabitants of Gotu area in Ngare Mara Ward. The researcher also interviewed the former governor of Isiolo County, Hon. Godana Doyo. Questionnaires and interview schedule were used to collect the data. The collected data was organized and prepared for analysis by coding and entry in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Ver.19). The study found that size of livestock motivates conservation of the grazing land, that local communities frequently engage in any grazing land conservation activities, that government have put measures to support management of local grazing land and that local community’s occupation prompts their management of grazing land. The study concluded that size of livestock herd had the greatest influence on management of rangelands in Gotu area followed by community management structures then socio economic status while had the government support then least effect on the management of rangelands in Gotu area. The study recommends that there is a need to strengthen the management capacity of rangelands through measures that enhance pastoralists’ control over natural resources, that there is need to build capacity and skills of people to harvest and store rain water and surface run-off and to sensitize the communities on rangeland restoration techniques.