Climate Change and Child Safeguarding in North Horr Ward, Marsabit County, Kenya

Climate-related pressures affect the conditions in which children grow, learn and access protection. This study examined household perceptions of climate-related challenges and their relationship with child safeguarding in North Horr Ward, Marsabit County, Kenya. A convergent mixed-methods design involved 141 household respondents and 12 key informants. Household responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation; stakeholder responses were analysed thematically. Respondents reported frequent drought and increasingly unpredictable rainfall (both M = 4.06). Perceived climate-related food shortages had a mean of 3.91, while environmental challenges affecting households' ability to support children had a mean of 3.50. The climate and safeguarding scores showed a weak positive association (r = .193, p = .024). The meaning of its direction requires verification of scale coding. Stakeholders described pathways through water scarcity, livestock losses, food insecurity, disrupted education and increased household responsibilities. These accounts suggest possible risks but do not establish causation. The findings support coordinated, child-sensitive responses to drought, water access, food security and education, informed by pastoral communities.