Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) cover over 80% of the country and are home to more than one-third of its population. These regions support nearly 70% of Kenya’s livestock and serve as the economic and cultural backbone for many pastoralist groups. Yet, ASALs are facing rising environmental stress. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), over 5.6 million hectares of land are severely degraded in Kenya, with most of this degradation concentrated in ASAL counties.
Degradation in these regions stems from multiple, interconnected drivers: unsustainable land use, deforestation, overgrazing, and environmental shocks such as prolonged drought. These pressures erode soil health, reduce vegetation cover, and limit water availability, undermining both ecosystems and livelihoods.
Traditionally, pastoralism has relied on seasonal migration, rotational grazing, and deep ecological knowledge to manage the land sustainably. However, population growth, land fragmentation, and weak governance are limiting the effectiveness of these practices. Without intervention, land degradation could continue to drive food insecurity, displacement, and conflict in already vulnerable regions.
Pastoralists as Stewards of the Land
Pastoralists have always understood the value of mobility and rotation. Their knowledge of grazing patterns, seasonal migration, and natural regeneration has helped to manage land use. Pastoralist communities have long relied on indigenous knowledge and time-tested adaptation strategies to navigate environmental challenges. A key practice is seasonal migration, where families temporarily relocate to the homes of relatives, in-laws, or clan members in less affected regions. Another critical strategy, particularly among the Maasai, is livestock distribution sharing animals among extended family, clan members, or age-mates across different locations. This reduces risk by ensuring that not all livestock are exposed to drought in one area, helping preserve livelihoods and sustain herds. These traditional land management and resource sharing systems have proven essential for building resilience in the face of increasing environmental variability.
For example, in Kajiado County, pastoralists often migrate during the month of July to areas near the Tanzanian border, the Kenyan coastal regions, or Chulu Hills—about 30 km away. They remain there for 3 to 4 months, depending on the severity of the drought, and typically return home around October.
Today, pastoralist communities are increasingly stepping into new roles as land restorers and environmental stewards. Their contribution is crucial because they are directly impacted and hold the ecological knowledge and adaptive strategies needed to sustain dryland ecosystems.
Mobility-based grazing systems, often misunderstood or sidelined in policy frameworks, are powerful tools for maintaining land productivity and preventing overuse. When supported by enabling policies and resources, these traditional systems can complement modern restoration methods.
Simeon – a Youth from Maasai land
Youth from pastoralist communities have a central role in sustainable land management. Simeon from Kajiado country Kenya has been active in local community-led restoration projects through Emali Dedicated Children’s Agency (EDCA) in collaboration with ChildFund (A UNCCD CSO/NGO Accredited member) that combines Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), agroforestry, and indigenous tree planting to restore degraded communal rangeland strengthen resilience to drought. Community members, especially youth, are emerging as leaders in sustainable land management practices linking local action to broader policy dialogues that call for meaningful youth engagement. Simeon exemplifies the new generation of advocates emerging from indigenous communities. In 2024, he represented Kenyan youth as part of the UNCCD Youth Caucus COP16 Youth delegates in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, advocating for the recognition of Indigenous land-use systems as viable adaptation strategies. “Participating in COP16 as a youth delegate with the UNCCD Youth Caucus was a deeply transformative experience for me, personally and professionally. As a young advocate from a pastoralist community, this platform allowed me to raise the voices of often-overlooked groups, particularly indigenous pastoralists.” Simeon says.
“My focus was to amplify the intersection of youth, pastoralism, land, and environmental degradation. I participated in discussions about the importance of protecting grazing lands, recognizing migratory patterns as adaptation strategies, and integrating indigenous pastoralist knowledge into national action plans.”
“The experience strengthened my resolve to push for policy changes that honor pastoralist ways of life. It also inspired me to continue working at the grassroots level with school-based environmental programs to teach children about environmental care.”
Restoration as a Path to Peace and Resilience
Land degradation is a driver of instability. In ASAL regions, degraded ecosystems exacerbate competition for scarce resources, increasing the risk of conflict and migration. According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), prolonged droughts have displaced thousands and strained local economies.
Conversely, restoring land increases food and water security, reduces pressure on fragile ecosystems, creates jobs and sustainable value chains, and contributes to peacebuilding by reducing competition for resources.
As the global community marks Desertification and Drought Day 2025 under the theme ‘Restore the land. Unlock the оpportunities,’ the case for pastoralist-led restoration is stronger than ever. With the right support, these communities can lead Kenya, and other dryland nations, toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
To realize this potential, there is an urgent need for increased investment in community-led restoration initiatives that put local communities, especially young pastoralists, at the center. National and regional policies must move beyond tokenism to truly recognize and integrate the traditional ecological knowledge that pastoralist communities have safeguarded for generations. Proven land restoration models such as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) and agroforestry must be scaled up across arid and semi-arid lands, backed by the political will and financial resources to match.
Equally important is the creation of meaningful platforms that allow youth and Indigenous leaders to actively shape environmental and land-use policies. Their voices, often excluded, are essential to driving solutions that are inclusive, equitable, and grounded in lived experience.
Written By Maureen Mutua Programs Support and Communications Officer at ChildFund Kenya.