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Climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya - A qualitative case study

Berndt, Jan Philipp LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
This study investigates climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya, addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change to ecosystem-dependent livelihoods. Despite growing interest, qualitative studies linking climate impacts to human mobility outcomes among pastoralist communities remain limited. Drawing on climate resilience theory and climate-induced mobility concepts, the research used qualitative methods, conducting 18 semi-structured interviews with Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia North and applying deductive and thematic coding. Findings show that drought is the major perceived vulnerability. Adaptation strategies are centred on water access, livelihood diversification, and livestock... (More)
This study investigates climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya, addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change to ecosystem-dependent livelihoods. Despite growing interest, qualitative studies linking climate impacts to human mobility outcomes among pastoralist communities remain limited. Drawing on climate resilience theory and climate-induced mobility concepts, the research used qualitative methods, conducting 18 semi-structured interviews with Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia North and applying deductive and thematic coding. Findings show that drought is the major perceived vulnerability. Adaptation strategies are centred on water access, livelihood diversification, and livestock management and are broadly known and implemented. Vulnerability increases migration aspirations but weakens capabilities, while adaptation has the opposite effect. The study concludes that climate change exacerbates existing hardship imposed by deeper structural factors, such as land tenure and governance legacies. Strengthening local democratic processes is essential to ensure adaptation pathways remain inclusive and safeguard traditional pastoralist livelihoods. (Less)
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author
Berndt, Jan Philipp LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Climate Resilience, Migration, Aspirations-capabilities-framework, Semi-structured interviews, Pastoralism, Laikipia, Sustainability Science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
No 2025:035
language
English
additional info
Funding: Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) Fieldwork Grant Programme
id
9199526
date added to LUP
2025-06-17 08:51:32
date last changed
2025-06-18 09:01:47
@misc{9199526,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya, addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change to ecosystem-dependent livelihoods. Despite growing interest, qualitative studies linking climate impacts to human mobility outcomes among pastoralist communities remain limited. Drawing on climate resilience theory and climate-induced mobility concepts, the research used qualitative methods, conducting 18 semi-structured interviews with Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia North and applying deductive and thematic coding. Findings show that drought is the major perceived vulnerability. Adaptation strategies are centred on water access, livelihood diversification, and livestock management and are broadly known and implemented. Vulnerability increases migration aspirations but weakens capabilities, while adaptation has the opposite effect. The study concludes that climate change exacerbates existing hardship imposed by deeper structural factors, such as land tenure and governance legacies. Strengthening local democratic processes is essential to ensure adaptation pathways remain inclusive and safeguard traditional pastoralist livelihoods.}},
  author       = {{Berndt, Jan Philipp}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya - A qualitative case study}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}