Changes in Drought Trends and Effectiveness of the Social Safety-Nets on Post-Drought Recovery of Households in Moyale Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

For many decades now, drought in the Horn of Africa has had devastating effects on the lives and livelihoods of the pastoralist communities. This study was conducted with a view to analyze changes in drought trends and effectiveness of social safety-nets on post-drought recovery of household in Moyale sub-county, Marsabit County, Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional survey and evaluation research design. The sample size for the study was 385 households. Study population consisted of Heads of households, community leaders, managers of NGOs, chiefs, and county drought coordinators in Moyale sub-county. Data was collected using household questionnaire, Key informant interviews, and focus group discussion. Data were analyzed using SPSS for frequencies and proportions followed by Chi square test at p = 0.05. Socio-economic characteristic show household heads are mainly men (60.8%), community regarded marriage highly (74%) and no formal education (57.9%). On drought experience and impact, majority of people in the area have experienced drought (99%); drought of 2006 and 2011/12 was the most remembered due to its impact (41%) and drought characteristics was severe and extreme (65%). The study found out that, as the drought intervals become shorter, the drought intensity was increasing and its impact was becoming more severe. The study also found out that social safety-nets empowered women (50.9%), strengthened family relations (60%) and the benefitted household had enough food (73%) to overcome drought. However, the study reported that social safety-nets did not help in school enrolment or retention (50.9%) of pupils during the time of drought. The study recommends that robust drought mitigative measures should be put in place that will help in reducing the shock on people and their livelihoods. The study also recommended that support provided through monetary terms to beneficiaries targeted in safety-nets scheme should be enhanced and any adjustment made for future cash programme design should be guided by the existing local Household Minimum Expenditure Baskets. Finally, the study recommended that more intervention of enhancing school retention at the time drought should be implemented as this will form basis for stronger community resilience and sustained livelihoods.