On the margin: internal displacement of Kenya’s pastoralists

In Africa, 66% of the land is used for pastoral production but – more than just a means of production – pastoralism is a way of life intrinsically linked to the identity of the individuals and communities that practise it. Given their mobile lifestyle, the fact that pastoralists can become internally displaced is often overlooked. Some even question whether it can happen at all. The 48-page study “On the margin: Kenya’s pastoralists – from displacement to solutions, a conceptual study on the internal displacement of pastoralists” (2014) focuses on northern Kenya, argues that pastoralists’ internal displacement has to be understood within a broader discourse about mobility. It examines the multiple causes of internal displacement and discusses processes and options for improving protection and assistance for those affected. Pastoralists’ internal displacement is presented as a process of impoverishment and decreasing resilience, which leads to the disenfranchisement of rights, marginalisation and neglect. It is presented as not only a humanitarian and development concern but also a human rights concern that requires a holistic approach. The study was brought out by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Posted on 19 November 2014 in Pastoralism, Mobility & Land Tenure