1. Institute for climate change and adaptation, University of Nairobi
Household vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies of Maasai Pastoralist to climate change and variability in Kenya BY
Bobadoye Ayodotun
Institute for climate change and adaptation, University of Nairobi

2. Importance of the research to climate risk assessment and management
The project identified Maasai pastoralist that are highly vulnerable to climate change and variability
The Project integrated both indigenous and science climate knowledge to reduce risk of Maasai pastoralist to climate change and extremes
The project enhanced the understanding of Indigenous knowledge of Maasai Pastoralist by researchers
Enhanced pastoralist knowledge on climate change and adaptation
Identified best adaptation practises that can reduce climate risk, especially drought among Maasai pastoralist

3. BACKGROUND

4. Project Barriers
inadequate climate and socio-economic data on Maasai pastoralist from relevant organization
Assessing difficult terrains to access and interact with Maasai communities
Building trust with the Maasai communities
Lack of funding: About 90% of the research was funded by the researcher and the lack of funding limited the full achievement of the objectives of the study

5. Comparing Pastoralist perception on climate change to meteorological evidence

6. Comparing Pastoralist perception on temperature to meteorological evidence

7. Comparing Pastoralist perception on drought to meteorological evidence

8. Traditional ways of forecasting rainfall among Maasai Pastoralist
Forecasting indicators
Rainfall Prediction
Safari ants
Direction of ants movement used for predicting rainfall
Animal intestine
Shape and colour of slaughtered intestine of cows used for rainfall prediction
Pattern of stars
Used to predict unset of raining season
Restlessness of Animals
Restlessness of Zebras and Giraffes for predicting rainfall

9. Household vulnerability analysis of Maasai Pastoralist to drought and dry spell
The approach combines both socio-political and biophysical indicators jointly developed by the Maasai communities and researcher in analysing vulnerability to climate change
Vulnerability was measured as a function of adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity
Principal component analysis was used to generate weight for the indicators and also calculate household vulnerability index
The households’ vulnerability was categorized in into: highly vulnerable; moderately vulnerable; and less vulnerable
A vulnerability map showing the highly vulnerable, vulnerable and less vulnerable areas was produced using ArcGIS 10.3 software package.

10. Household Vulnerability Measurement
The indicators used for calculating vulnerability index were jointly selected by the pastoralist communities and researcher
Vulnerability index was calculated using the formula below:
Vi = (A1X1J + A2X2J + ……… + AnXnj) – (A1Y1j + A2Y2j + ……….. AnYnj)
Where Vi = vulnerability index
Xs = indicators for adaptive capacity
Ys = indicators for exposure and sensitivity
As = First component score of each variable computed using PCA.

11. Percentage of number of households in each vulnerability level by wards

12. Maps showing the levels of vulnerability of households and communities in the study area

13. Level of importance of adaptation strategies to Maasai pastoralist households

14. Agreed best adaptation practices for Maasai pastoralist
Effective early warning system
Index based Livestock insurance
Livelihood diversification
Cooperative societies and table banking
Rainfall harvesting and addressing water problem
Child education
Improved livestock marketing programme
Migration

15. Lessons learnt and Adaptive response
Maasai pastoralist are rich in indigenous knowledge that are useful for adaptation planning
Integrating indigenous knowledge and climate science enhanced decision making and reduces the risk of Maasai pastoralist to climate change and its extremes
There is disparity in the vulnerability levels of households within communities and also among wards in Kajiado east
Adaptation strategies adopted by the pastoralist are largely autonomous and are unlikely to build resilience of pastoralist livelihoods.
Planned adaptation actions are needed to respond to current and anticipated impacts of climate change and reduce risk of Maasai pastoralist to climate change and its extremes

16. IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT TO OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
The study built the capacity of pastoralist to understand and respond to climate change and variability
Vulnerability maps are useful for interventions and adaptation planning by county government, National government and relevant NGOs
International research organizations and relevant adaptation funding organization have relevant information on vulnerability and adaptation need of pastoralist
The study provided both indigenous and science climate knowledge to enhance decision making by relevant stockholders and reduce risk of pastoralist to climate change

17. CONCLUSION
Climate change and its impact is evident in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. Indigenous knowledge is important in planning adaptation strategies in rural areas.
Climate risk management among pastoralist therefore requires collaboration among stakeholders and integration of various sources of knowledge
The project enhanced climate knowledge of stakeholders through the climate adaptation manual jointly developed by the Maasai communities and researchers

18. NEXT STEP
There is the need to understand the impact of Increasing fragmentation and privatization of land on pastoralist livelihood among Maasai pastoralist
Integrated review of planned adaptation strategies among pastoralist in Kenya to identify the best practises that can reduce the risk of pastoralist livelihood to climate change and its extremes