Globally, pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (Thornton et al., 2009). Increasing climate variability and extreme events will affect livestock production and productivity, incomes and food security. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists already face a number of challenges, and climate change can be seen as just one of the many important drivers affecting their livelihoods. Other drivers include changes in land tenure and land use, population
growth, sedentarisation, rapid urbanisation, globalisation, conflict, intensification and institutional changes (Behnke, 2008; Galvin, 2009).
Recent studies in Kenya report massive declines of wildlife and an increase in total livestock numbers in the arid and semi- arid lands (ASALs) (Ogutu et al., 2016). Specifically, the increases are on sheep, goats and camels, with large declines reported in cattle between the periods 1977 to 2016 (Ogutu et al., 2016). The declines in cattle occurred in 15 out of the 21 counties1, with Turkana, Machakos, Garissa, Kitui and
Kajiado being most affected (Figure 1a). By contrast, cattle numbers increased in only 6 counties: Lamu, Taita Taveta, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Kilifi. On the other hand, there were significant increases in the number of sheep and goats (Figure……….