Abstract
This paper is based on research which investigated the availability of social protection structures and institutions among pastoralists in northern Kenya. Social protection, which consists of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets, diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption/loss of income is something that northern Kenya needs. The paper faults Vision 2030 and suggests mechanisms and ways in which pastoralists can be incorporated in Kenya's development more meaningfully. The argument is that Vision 2030 has not addressed the plight of pastoralists in political, economic and social realms, in ways that would integrate them into the national, regional and global market. The paper argues that with ICT and introduction of cell phones in rural areas, pastoralists are part of the global market place and that they are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of selling and offloading herds at an advantage, before drought sets in. Pastoralists in Kenya seem ready to deal with the challenges of the 21st Century. And the government of Kenya needs to deploy social protection strategies to protect them from various social, economic, political and environmental hazards and calamities.
Recommended Citation
Amutabi, Maurice N.
(2017)
"Pastoralism, Social Protection and Vision 2030 in Kenya: Possibilities and Prospects,"
Journal of African Policy Studies: Vol. 23:
No.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/joaps/vol23/iss1/3