Abstract:
This study investigated the impacts of water scarcity on the livestock production systems and the
coping mechanisms adopted by pastoralists in Mbeere South, Embu County. Multiple data
sources, including socioeconomic interviews with 50 households, focus group discussion, and
informal interviews with pastoralists were used to capture various aspects of water scarcity and
water scarcity coping mechanism. Results revealed that water scarcity events were increasingly
frequent, and have negatively impacted pastoral livelihoods. In order to adapt to or cope with
climatic anomalies, households are using a variety of strategies. In addition to the traditional
short term coping mechanism, the long term adaptation strategy used included diversification of
herd composition, livestock mobility to track forage and water resources and sending children to
school for formal education as a long term investment expected to pay back through income
from employment. Both qualitative and quantities approaches were used, the study employed a
review of relevant documents, structured questionnaires and interviews of key informants and
focus groups. Sampling methods were used at the household level to determine water scarcity
impacts, and also it involved laboratory work where milk samples were taken for observation.
Qualitative data were coded and subjected to thematic analysis, whereas quantitative data were
subjected to descriptive statistics. The impacts of water scarcity on livestock were livestock
mortality, food insecurity, low livestock products, low-quality products, reduction in livestock
prices.
