Large-scale irrigation can destroy Kenya’s pastoralism

There is much talk about investing in irrigation in Kenya’s drylands, with the idea of greening the “desert”, boosting food production and creating new livelihoods. In the article “Why irrigation needs to think smaller to save Kenyan pastoralism” published in The New Humanitarian (28 February 2024), Ian Scoones and Hussein Wario caution that large-scale irrigation schemes, based on the construction of large dams and oriented towards commercial production either for food or export-oriented crops, displace or undermine pastoralism in the drylands – and provide an example of this from Ethiopia. Small-scale irrigation, in contrast, can complement diversified pastoralist livelihoods – the core of the local economy and society. However, large-scale irrigation projects are currently being advocated and are already announcedfor Kenya. The article examines the implications for longer-term development in the drylands – home to 70% of Kenya’s livestock.

Posted on 2 March 2024 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralism, Mobility & Land Tenure, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition