Abstract:
The economy of Kenya is based on agriculture which in turn depends on rainfall
performance. Over 80 percent of the Kenyan population relies on rain-fed agriculture as
a livelihood source. Unfortunately, changes in its amount, timing and distribution in the
last two decades have influenced the reliability of rainfall for agricultural purposes. The
consequence has been recurrent food insecurity in most parts of the country and chronic
in the arid and semi-arid areas due to frequent droughts. To survive the harsh climatic
Conditions, the affected communities employ various adaptive strategies. The current
study examined the drought adaptive strategies employed by subsistence farmers in the
semi-arid areas of Kenya in relation to mitigating climate change. Data was obtained
from Mukogodo and Central Divisions of Laikipia County, Kenya. Time series was used
to analyze rainfall trends. Data on effects of droughts and adaptive strategies was
obtained through in-depth interviews. The inhabitants were aware of climate change
with 90% and 10% of the respondents attributing the changes to human activities and
divine forces, respectively. Rainfall showed a declining trend in Mukogodo Division but
an increasing trend in Central Division. Nevertheless, the timing of the "long rains" and
the length of the growing season in Central Division showed considerable changes. The
consequences were food insecurity and livelihood destruction in the area. The adaptive
strategies employed aimed at cushioning farmers against immediate problems but with
minimal consideration of climate change mitigation. This paper highlights on the
opportunities and challenges of mitigating climate change that farmers had through
their day-to-day adaptive strategies.