Impacts of climate change on livestock sector and
Kenya’s preparedness on the challenges
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya
Expert panel: Sustainable solutions for the livestock sector. the time is ripe!
10thGlobal Forum for Food and Agriculture, Berlin, 19 January 2018
Robin M. Mbae

SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK SECTOR
KEY MESSAGES
The livestock sector in Kenya is highly affected by
the climate change and its impacts are significant.
The Kenya government adhere to its obligations
to global commitments and has developed
important policy documents to guide in having a
sustainable livestock
There are specific interventions that have been
developed to address the challenges of the climate
change in projects and programmes for livestock
sector

Location of Arid and
Semi Arid Lands and
Non-Arid and Semi
Arid Lands Counties
KENYA’S LIVESTOCK SECTOR
Livestock production in Kenya is a major economic and social activity for the communities that
live in the high rainfall areas for dairy production and in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS)
for meat production. Its contributions to the economy of the country is well as follows:
 12% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP);
 50% of agricultural labour force;
 80% of the country is ASALs where 60% of livestock is found, supporting over 10
million people as the only source of livelihood
 The agriculture sector is responsible for about 41 per cent of Kenya’s GHG emissions as in
2010
 90 per cent of these emissions are generated by the livestock sub-sector mainly from
enteric Fermentation

Livestock production systems in Kenya:
Pastoralism 60%, Ranching 10% , Semi–Intensive 20%, Zero grazing (Intensive) 10%

Other effects of Climate Change
1) -Disruption of social systems
2) -Accelerated environmental degradation leading to desertification
3) -Weakening of the livestock market chain management
4) -Migrations due to drought
KEY LIVESTOCK CHALLENGES DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Emaciated cattle
Livestock mortalities Conflicts over resources
Land Degradation

GHG emissions projection (Kenya), 2010 –
2030 and available options for mitigation

In the NDC, the Agriculture Sector contribution on mitigation will be
implemented through the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Framework
Programme (KCSAFP)
Kenya’s targeted emission
reduction contribution per sector

INITIATIVES FOR LIVESTOCK SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
a) Key Kenya Policy Documents
Year Title
2010 National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS)
2012 Adaptation Analysis Report (ATAR)
2013 National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017 (NCCAP)
2014 Climate Change Bill
2015 National Adaptation Plan 2015-2030 (NAP)
2015 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
2016 Climate Change Act and Policy
2017 Kenya Climate Smart Strategy (2017-2026)
2017 Kenya Climate Finance Policy
2018 Kenya Climate Smart Framework Programme

b)Development of County Climate Risk
Profiles
1. Provide information on current climate and possible
future climate scenarios
2. Identify climate change/related vulnerabilities and risks
for the population, livelihoods, investments, and the
environment
3. Identify potential adaptation and coping responses for
climate risks identified
4. The CRPs serve as a basis for preparing the County CSA
investments by the county governments

c)Dairy NAMA transformative agenda
Enhancement of on-farm productivity(Finance &Extension)
Energy use efficiency in processing
Support & promotion of Biogas use in households
Commercial fodder supply

d) Provision of Economic instruments
as incentives to address climate
change impacts
1. Agricultural insurance
2. Agricultural Subsidies
3. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

e) Livestock specific projects/programmes and
interventions that address Climate Change
challenges
 1. Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP
To increase agricultural productivity and build resilience to climate change risks in the targeted
smallholder farming and pastoral communities in Kenya.
 2. Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilient Project (RPLRP)
To enhance livelihoods resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in drought prone
areas through regional approaches
 3. Kenya Livestock Insurance Project(KLIP)
To reduce the risks of livestock mortality emanating from drought and to build the resilience of
vulnerable pastoralists for enhanced and sustainable food security
 4. Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Programme
To improve resilience to drought and enhance sustainable livelihood of communities in ASALs
of Kenya
 5. Mainstreaming Sustainable land management Agro-pastoral Production systems in
Kenya
To provide the basis for economic development, food security and sustainable livelihoods
while restoring the ecological integrity of the ASALs
Partners on the above