Kenya is a drought-prone country, primarily because of its peculiar eco-climatic conditions. Although dissected by the equator in its southern half, Kenya contains only a few pockets of high and regular rainfall (>2000mm). Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) cover 80% of the territory. In these areas, where annual rainfall varies from 200 to 500 mm, periodical droughts are part of the climate system. Communities living in these ASALs have a good understanding of drought and have developed techniques to characterise major events. Research by the development organisation Oxfam reveals that the Turkana, a nomadic community in north- western Kenya, name droughts in relation to their impacts. Thus, the 1960 drought is remembered as “Namotor” or “bones exposed” because of the high number of dead animals. Kimududu or “the plague that killed humans and livestock” occurred in 1970. Lopiar or “sweeping everything away” refers to the 1979/80 drought.
Publication year
2006
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
climate, drought, economics, environmental management, social conditions
Geographic
Kenya
