Mapping for Sustainable Development
Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya
+254 723 786161
rcmrd@rcmrd.org

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SERVIR ESA has continuously collaborated with Mercy Corps (K) to build the resilience of communities in the northern part of Kenya covering Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir and Turkana counties. The Kenyan rangelands cover over 70% of the country (Arid and Semi-Arid Areas) and are home to both wildlife and pastoral communities, and through livestock production, they contribute over 12% of the 40% agricultural GDP with further contribution through the tourism sector. With dependence on rain-fed pastures, better management of the rangelands requires timely information on available resources. While information on vegetation conditions is important, other critical resources such as location of water, extent of unpalatable foliage (invasive species) and other ancillary information is required for a comprehensive understanding of the condition of the rangelands.

ASALs contribute to 10% and 45% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) respectively. ASALs are fragile ecosystems that are very sensitize to climatic changes. Rangelands falls within the ASALs and they are a source of livelihoods for the pastoral communities as they provide grazing fields for the livestock. However, the effects of climate change on these lands have led to drying up of water sources, declining pasture resources, land degradation, increased outbreaks of resource-based conflicts, loss of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods and food insecurity. The compounding effects of climate change has equally contributed to unacceptable poverty rates beyond the national averages ranging from 80% to over 90%. During severe droughts, these rangelands become desert islands and barely support communities and animals.

With this background, SERVIR ESA supported Mercy Corps (K) in conducting participatory mapping and training in Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir and Turkana counties.

SERVIR ESA has continuously collaborated with Mercy Corps (K) to build the resilience of communities in the northern part of Kenya covering Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir and Turkana counties. The Kenyan rangelands cover over 70% of the country (Arid and Semi-Arid Areas) and are home to both wildlife and pastoral communities, and through livestock production, they contribute over 12% of the 40% agricultural GDP with further contribution through the tourism sector. With dependence on rain-fed pastures, better management of the rangelands requires timely information on available resources. While information on vegetation conditions is important, other critical resources such as location of water, extent of unpalatable foliage (invasive species) and other ancillary information is required for a comprehensive understanding of the condition of the rangelands.

ASALs contribute to 10% and 45% of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) respectively. ASALs are fragile ecosystems that are very sensitize to climatic changes. Rangelands falls within the ASALs and they are a source of livelihoods for the pastoral communities as they provide grazing fields for the livestock. However, the effects of climate change on these lands have led to drying up of water sources, declining pasture resources, land degradation, increased outbreaks of resource-based conflicts, loss of biodiversity, loss of livelihoods and food insecurity. The compounding effects of climate change has equally contributed to unacceptable poverty rates beyond the national averages ranging from 80% to over 90%. During severe droughts, these rangelands become desert islands and barely support communities and animals.

With this background, SERVIR ESA supported Mercy Corps (K) in conducting participatory mapping and training in Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir and Turkana counties.

Marsabit County is the largest of Kenya’s 47 counties with an area of 70,961 sq. km. It has a population of approximately 459,785 persons, with a density of 6 people/Km2 making it the least population density with an annual growth rate of 2.8%. It is located in upper eastern region of the Republic of Kenya between Longitudes 37o 57’ and 39o 21’ East and Latitudes 02o 45’ and 04o 27’ North. It borders Ethiopia to the north, Wajir to the east, Isiolo to the south, Samburu to the south west and Turkana County to the west.

 

The County is generally flat falling with altitude of between 300m and 900m (Marsabit CIDP, 2013-2017). The County has geographical features such as Ol Donyo Ranges (2,066m above sea level) in the south west, Mt. Marsabit (1,865m above sea level) in the central part of the county, Hurri Hills (1,685m above sea level) in the north eastern part of the county, Mt. Kulal (2,235m above sea level) in the north west and the mountains around Sololo-Moyale escarpment (up to 1,400m above sea level) in the north east (Marsabit CIDP, 2013-2017). The County is home to Chalbi desert which covers 948 Km2.

 

Kenya has a complex tropical climate that varies significantly between its coastal, interior and highland regions and from season to season, year to  year, and decade to decade (IISD & UNDP, 2012). It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland, and arid or semi-arid with minimal rainfall in the northeast (WHO, 2015). There are two major rainy seasons in Kenya. The long rains season from March to May and the short rains season from October to December. The other months of the year are dry and warm with occasional showers. Kenya’s varied climate renders it susceptible to climate change and climate variability. The country has experienced changing temperature and rainfall patterns. The scenario is similar in the Counties. Marsabit County being in the arid and semi-arid region has beared the brunt of erratic weather patterns.

 

Marsabit County experiences hot and dry weather conditions. The County is characterized with low rainfall amounts and high temperatures combined with high potential evapo-transpiration exceeding actual annual precipitation that leads to marked moisture deficiency for most of the year (JICA, 2015). Average rainfall varies with the different altitude in the County. Regions of low altitude receive less than 200 mm of rainfall per annum; while Mt. Marsabit gets much higher rainfall and mean annual rainfall of 800 mm (JICA, 2015). Temperature ranges between 16oC and 32oC (FEWSNet, 2016).

 

Rainfall in Marsabit county ranges between 200mm and 1,000mm per annum and its duration, amount and reliability increases with increase in altitude. North Horr (550m) has a mean annual rainfall of 150mm; Mt. Marsabit and Mt. Kulal 800mm while Moyale receives a mean annual rainfall of 700mm (Marsabit CIDP, 2013-2017). The long rainy season occurs in the months of March to May, and the short rains occur mainly between October and December. However, rainfall patterns are becoming unpredictable with increased climate variability. Analysis of the average annual rainfall conducted by RCMRD for the last thirty-five years show that the rains have been increasing gradually. Reduced amount of rainfall coincides with the periods that the County experienced drought episodes like 2000 and 2009. Highest rainfall was recorded during the 1997/1998 El-Niño.       

 

Further analyses by RCMRD indicate that both the short and long rains seasons are erratic. The amount of rainfall varies from year to year. The short rains have been increasing gradually in the last 35 years while the long rains have been decreasing. The amount of rains received during the 1997/1998 El-Niño was much more compared to the other years, especially in the short rains season. The county experiences extreme temperatures ranging from a minimum of 10.1ºC to a maximum of 30.2ºC, with an annual average of 20.1oC.  The figure below presents the mean rainfall and temperature trends for Loiyangalani ward in Marsabit County.

 

 

 

 

Isiolo County is a county in the former Eastern Province of Kenya with an approximate area of 25,336.1 km2. Its population is 268,002 (2019 census) and its capital and largest town is Isiolo. Isiolo County was the first county to be developed as part of the Kenya Vision 2030 program. Other upcoming urban centres within the county are: Garbatulla, Modogashe, Kinna, Merti and Oldonyiro. The county has two constituencies (Isiolo North Constituency and Isiolo South Constituency), three sub-counties and ten wards. There are a total of 10 county assembly wards. The local topography is arid or semi-arid low plains. Ewaso Nyiro River flows through the county and partly bounds it. It borders Marsabit County to the north, Wajir County to the east, Garissa and Tana River counties to the south east, Meru County to the south, Laikipia County to the south west and Samburu County to the west.

 

Isiolo county, like most parts of Kenya, receive bimodal rainfall with the predefined seasons being March-April-May (MAM) and October-November-December (OND). With the changing climate patterns, the rainfall patterns have changed too. This has often manifested itself as either delayed onset of rainfall, little or no rainfall during the anticipated season or the expected rainfall occurring within a short period of time. The latter more of the than not results in flooding while the former manifests itself as drought.The constitution of Kenya (2010) established a devolved system of governance from the national level, through to the county up to ward level. County development planning processes mandates the Wards to contribute information in a participatory way to facilitate the development of a well-balanced system of settlements and ensure productive use of scarce land, water and other resources for economic, social, ecological and other functions across a county. Citizen participation is key to successful devolution and good governance at the county and ward level. The law provides that “county planning shall provide for citizen participation” and that participation shall be done in a process that “involves meaningful engagement of citizens.”

Planning challenges in Kenya’s ASALs emanate from both political marginalization and the operational constraints of low economic concentration and population density. Marsabit and Isiolo county faces numerous challenges including unplanned settlements, degraded rangelands, inadequate or unplanned infrastructure, low quality of development projects, poor monitoring systems, mushrooming of new settlements and unequitable resource allocation due to lack of appropriate tools for decision making. County integrated development plans (CIDP) recognize the importance of Geographic Information (maps and statistics) in guiding development. These are prepared by all counties in Kenya to guide development over a five-year period. Over 80 percent of data and information used in planning and decision making is positional data (Geographic data). Geographic Information systems play very significant roles in the manipulation and analysis of geographic data in order to guide planning and development decisions. Application of GIS allows for rational decision-making towards equitable resource allocation and monitoring based on spatial data as opposed to personal biases. GIS provides a platform to store and manage digital footprint of development projects in sectors such as water, education, health, roads, rangelands, environment and natural resources. Maps developed through GIS play significant roles towards ensuring clarity, accountability, objectivity in resource allocation. Cognizant of the challenges and the need to streamline monitoring of development projects and ensure equitable resource allocations based on evidence Marsabit County resolved to use GIS technology and launched their GIS Laboratory in August 2019 while Isiolo is in the process of equipping their laboratory.

Recognizing the need to sustainably manage rangelands in the county, particularly the location of water points in relation to grazing lands, management of wet and dry season grazing fields and reduction of resulting inter-community conflicts, Mercy Corps and SERVIR ESA partnered to conduct participatory mapping of grazing zones in selected wards in the five ASAL Counties - Isiolo, Garissa, Marsabit, Wajir and Turkana. While using their rangeland resource sketch maps, local communities in Loiyangalani ward in Marsabit were trained on the use of satellite images to develop better and more accurate maps including how to use them towards better management of their wet and dry season grazing areas. This training was developed as part of the Livestock Market Systems (LMS) project which is being implemented in collaboration with ACDI/VOCA under USAID program called Feed the Future. LMS is a USAID-funded program with a focus on improving people’s resilience in the face of stresses and reduce poverty, household hunger, and chronic undernutrition through collective action; expanded and viable economic opportunities; strengthened formal and informal institutions, systems, and governance; and improved human capital. 

In a bid to enable self-reliance of Mercy Corps and the communities in these counties to continue with this kind of exercise, a number of stakeholders were trained on the participatory mapping process and “champion mappers” identified. The champion mappers will work closely with Mercy Corps and the communities to map out the wards or sub-counties in which Mercy Corps will prioritise in future.  In the recent past, SERVIR has supported Mercy Corps in mapping out the following wards; In Isiolo county (Kinna, Garbatulla, Ngare-mara and Cherab wards), Garissa County (Benane, Bura, Masalani and Mbalabala), Marsabit county (Golbo, Kargi, Maikona and Loiyanglani wards ), Wajir county (Bute, Eldas) and Turkana County (Lake zone, Kibish and Songot ward). The figures below present the sample participatory maps and photos of capacity building.


Get In Touch For more information, registration or further Questions

Roysambu, Kasarani
Nairobi, Kenya

+254 020 2680748 / 2680722
+254 723 786161 / +254 735 981098

 

P.O. Box 632-00618 Nairobi, Kenya

rcmrd@rcmrd.org

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