Samburu's bold shift from cattle to camels in face of climate change

John Letuya started herding camels last year after Samburu County Government introduced the animals to the community to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The first thing he and other pastoralists do after waking up is check on their animals, ensuring that any thorns in their fur are removed.

After the mothers have finished feeding their babies, Letuya and his group milk  the animals and take them out to graze. The milk is consumed by their families and the surplus sold locally to other members of the community.

Letuya and other beneficiaries of the camel programme have been herding cattle for centuries. The move from cattle herding to camel keeping among the Samburus is more than an economic transition; it represents a fundamental shift in age-old customs. 

Samburu County has an arid landscape, prone to drought, with dusty lowlands leading up to forested volcanic highlands. The thousands of people who make a living from the land here are pastoralists.

However, in recent years, Letuya’s way of life has become increasingly difficult due to climate change, which has forced them to endure extended periods of extreme poverty and severe food insecurity as a result of prolonged dry conditions.

These conditions have left the Samburu people living in despair.

Their hopes diminished when their rivers began to dry up, threatening their livestock and sole source of income, and disrupting their cherished lifestyle.

Yet, whereas cattle are demanding in terms of their needs for water and fodder, camels have an extraordinary ability to survive for a long time without water and to live on harsh scrub vegetation, and they produce rich, nutritious milk over long periods.

It is for this reason that the county government introduced camel rearing as a solution to perennial drought that often wipe out all their cattle.

According to Moses Leluata, the county executive committee member for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, they distribute 1,000 camels to families every financial year to deal with drought and help families beat poverty.

“We have taken up camel farming because the animal is a miracle animal. It can survive in harsh climatic conditions and provide nourishment and a source of livelihood to families. While cattle die and migrate during the dry season, camels can withstand climate change and provide milk to families for subsistence as well as for sale. The camel can walk 15 days without water,” he said.

Leluata said since the programme was introduced four year ago, the economic status of the community has changed, with high yield of camel milk as well as meat.

“The camels have helped families in terms of finances. The milk has also helped in fighting malnutrition among children under the age of five.” Leluata said.

Residents were, however, warned against selling the animals to get quick cash.

“Though the animal fetches a good sum in the market, we want to warn residents to refrain from selling them because this project is supposed to be long-term and offer a livelihood to families,” Leluata said.

Governor Lati Lelelit, who is spearheading the camel distribution programme, said so far his administration has given out 3,000 camels to the neediest families.

“The community and the village elders decide which families should benefit from the camels. They are allowed to select the neediest families to benefit first. The process is transparent and exclusively left to the community,” he said.