| dc.description.abstract | Every corner of the world is already experiencing climate change, and the situation will worsen
unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced and adaptation measures are implemented. As a
result, it is necessary to quantify the degree of variation and change in climate and the adaptive
capacity of households and identify the potential effective adaptive strategies to buffer against
climatic impacts. The goal of this study therefore, is to quantify the level of variation and
change in climate, adaptive capacity of the households and the effective adaptive strategies for
dealing with climate impacts of Maasai pastoral households in Magadi division of Kajiado
County. The specific objectives of the study were to: (i) determine the characteristics of Maasai
pastoral households, (ii) assess the level of climate variation and change, (iii) determine the
adaptive capacity to climate variability and change of Maasai pastoral households, (iv) evaluate
the adaptive strategies to climate variation and change undertaken by Maasai pastoral
households in Magadi division of Kajiado County. This study used a mixed-methods research
design. Primary data were collected through household surveys, key informant interviews,
focus group discussion reports, archival documents, and journals as secondary data sources. A
structured questionnaire was used to survey a stratified proportional random sample of 366
households. Thirty-four (34) key informant interviews were conducted on purposely selected
respondents based on their knowledge on climate variation and change in the study area. Four
Focus Group Discussions of ten (10) participants each were conducted within the four different
locations in the study area to triangulate the information from the household survey.
Descriptive (mean, median, mode, and frequency distributions) and inferential statistics
(regression analysis, ANOVA, Chi-square, t-test) were used to analyze the collected data.
Statistical tests were performed at a 5% level of significance. Data were analyzed using the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS version 26) statistical software. The
level climate variability was found to be high, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 35.4 and
negative standardized precipitation index (SPI) in 17 years. Climate change based on long term
rainfall trends was found to be on a decreasing trend. The Maasai pastoralists perceived the
level of climate variability and change to be high (M = 3.97, SD = .204) on a scale of 1 to 5.
There were no statistically significant (t=3.378, df 364, p=.059) differences between the male
and female household heads in their rating of climate variability. The level of adaptive capacity
to climate variation and change among the Maasai pastoral households was found to be
moderate (M=2.55, SD=1.156). There were no statistically significant differences (t=1.688, df
364, p=.092) between the male and female headed households. The nature based adaptive
strategies to climate impacts that were recommended included: forage preservation, ranked
(M=3.94, SD=1.12) on a scale of 1-5; pasture restoration with enclosures, ranked (M=3.91,
SD=1.11). while the non-nature based solutions to climate risks included: diversification to
non-livestock livelihoods, ranked (M = 4.17, SD = .99); training on the climate mitigation
measures (M = 3.88, SD = 1.38). The findings from the study will influence policy development
in implementing climate variation and change adaptive and mitigating measures in Kajiado
County. | en_US |
