The Impact of Drought on Community Managed Risk Reduction Strategies in Marsabit County, Kenya

Recurrent droughts among other natural disasters threaten livelihoods in Marsabit County and other arid and semi-Arid lands of Kenya. The response to drought damage and loss focuses on emergency humanitarian aid, as opposed to building resilience. This study examined the influence of community managed risk reduction strategies on resilience in Marsabit County, Kenya. An evaluation research design was used. Data was collected through key informants, an observation checklist, a household survey and focus group discussions. Quantitative survey data was analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)., In the findings 95% (365) of the respondents perceived drought as the greatest challenge to their livelihoods. Accordingly, the respondents supported the development of new water sources 96% (370), adoption of planned grazing 53% (204), and sale of livestock 43% (166) as a means of reducing drought risk and promoting resilience. 80% (308) of the respondents focused on diversifying their income through income generating activities. In this study, community strategies were classified into three broad categories that include: social capital coping strategies, natural capital coping strategies and humanitarian aid coping strategies. This study concludes that resilience at community level is a function of locally applied coping strategies, bolstered by external support during extreme events. However, the external support to drought-affected communities should not be to the exclusion, degradation, and alienation of local community coping strategies. The article contributes to the humanitarian assistance field of study by highlighting drought resilience strategies in Marsabit County, Kenya. It was approved by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) license reference number 179474, and the department of post graduate studies, of Masinde University of Science and Technology, Kenya.