Pastoralists’ Socioecological Trends: The Case of Laikipia County in Kenya

Pastoralism is a complete way of life involving ecological, political, economic and social dimensions, dependent on continuous balance diverse factors. However, pastoral systems are faced with emerging accelerating shocks stresses that challenge their resilience the ability to meet household livelihood needs sustainably. In response these pressures, pastoralist socioecological in Africa undergoing process rapid transformation marked by positive negative socio-ecological trends. This study, therefore, analyzed trends focus Laikipia County, Kenya. The study used participatory action research design multi-stage sampling design. Data collection analysis were done using trend method, while Mann-Kendall Z Test Kendall’s correlation coefficient test relationships. finds pastoralists’ culture lifestyles changing as shown observation cultural practices (Z = - 4.22, P<0.001) effectiveness customary governance 0.401, P<0.001). Secondly, although total number livestock increasing 3.11, P<0.01), there downward holding per -3.83, P<0.001), and, hence diversification non-pastoral livelihoods 4.28, These changes caused growing pressure resources ecological due various factors, including human population land degradation 4.17, climate change variability 4.05, Therefore, enabled an understanding underlying drivers. Moreover, showed impacts drivers, feedback each other, responses system. will strengthen development planning policy-making processes.