Building Resilience: Lessons from Drought Management in Northern Kenya

Between August and November 2025, the Gaadisa Gummi Foundation—commissioned by CRDD—conducted long- and short-term assessments on how droughts affect society and the pastoral economy in the Obbu region of Sololo, Northern Kenya. The findings reveal not only the extent of climate-induced hardships but also the powerful lessons communities offer in resilience, adaptation, and innovation.

The Harsh Reality of Drought in Northern Kenya

Impacts of drought

Northern Kenya’s pastoralist communities face one of today’s most persistent challenges: recurrent droughts driven by climate change. These conditions reshape livelihoods, weaken social safety nets, and threaten pastoralism itself.

The severe 2019–2022 drought saw up to 90% cattle mortality, major losses in sheep, and greater resilience among camels and goats. These losses plunged families into debt, forced distress livestock sales, and destabilized market prices. Recovery can take decades, pushing many households deeper into poverty

Traditional Coping Strategies: Still Essential but Changing.

Mobility and Grazing Practices

Mobility remains a vital coping strategy, but its effectiveness is declining due to rising labor costs, poor herder working conditions, and widespread land enclosures (kaalo) that fragment grazing areas.

Traditional knowledge remains essential, but it now needs reinforcement through modern innovations and community planning.

Innovation and Community Resilience

women-led fodder banks

One of the strongest resilience innovations highlighted by the assessment is the rise of women-led fodder banking groups. These initiatives produce, store, and sell hay—supporting households and creating new incomes.

Their work demonstrates:

• Women as key resilience leaders

• Community-driven innovation

• Sustainable models for drought preparedness

Strengthening Social Protection Systems

Formal social protection (e.g., cash transfers, food aid) plays an important role but often lacks consistency. Informal systems—community solidarity, women’s groups, neighbour support networks—remain more reliable.

Training frameworks must teach how to integrate both formal and informal systems for long-term resilience.

Policy and Training Recommendations

Key recommendations include:

• Promoting drought-resilient species (goats, camels)

• Scaling women-led fodder initiatives

• Investing in water infrastructure and affordable feed

• Blending traditional knowledge with modern early-warning tools

• Stabilizing livestock markets during drought

Training programs should combine environmental science, socio-economic analysis, gender perspectives, and participatory methods.

Conclusion: A Future Built on Resilience

The story of drought in Northern Kenya is not solely one of loss—it is one of resilience, innovation, and community strength. By merging traditional knowledge with modern systems, pastoralist communities can build sustainable futures in the face of climate variability.

For policymakers, educators, and development practitioners, the message is clear: resilience grows through empowerment, foresight, and community-driven action.