INDIGENOUS COPING MECHANISMS AND PASTORAL ADAPTATION TO DROUGHT STRESS IN KAJIADO COUNTY

The Kajiado District of Kenya, primarily inhabited by Maasai pastoralists, has undergone significant land tenure changes in recent decades, marked by the subdivision and fragmentation of communal grazing lands into smaller individual parcels. This transformation, as noted by Kimani and Pickard (1996), has been accompanied by increased cultivation in areas traditionally reserved for dry season grazing, particularly in regions with moderate rainfall, as highlighted by Lamprey and Reid (2004). Furthermore, the establishment of protected wildlife conservation areas such as Amboseli National Park, Chyulu National Park, and Nairobi National Park has further altered the landscape. Central to the pastoralists' resilience strategy against drought is herd mobility, a practice aimed at exploiting spatially diverse vegetation types and productivity, as emphasized by Galvin et al. (2001). Drought events not only lead to reductions in grass biomass but can also trigger significant shifts in botanical composition, as documented by Fynn and O'Connor (2000) and Mworia et al. (1997). Access to various vegetation communities and productivity levels is crucial for maintaining livestock population stability and body condition, as discussed by Ellis and Swift (1988). This paper examines the implications of land tenure changes and protected area delineation on Maasai pastoralists' herd mobility strategy in the face of drought. By synthesizing insights from existing literature, it seeks to elucidate the complex interplay between land use policies, environmental factors, and pastoral livelihoods. Understanding these dynamics is essential for crafting sustainable land management strategies that promote both conservation objectives and the resilience of pastoral communities in Kajiado District.