Karanja, Amon2024-01-192024-01-192020-01Karanja, A.M. (2020), "Drought Risks Livelihoods in Laikipia County", Kenya Policy Briefs, 1(1), 23-24.https://africarxiv.ubuntunet.net/handle/1/42https://doi.org/10.60763/africarxiv/23In the last 30 years, droughts have occurred in Kenya, resulting in food insecurity, scarce pastures, and loss of livelihoods and human lives. Drought sets a vicious cycle of socioeconomic impacts beginning with crop failure, unemployment, erosion of assets, decrease in income and poor nutrition (UNISDR, 2012). In Kenya, drought adversely affects rain-fed agriculture, water resources, hydropower generation, and ecosystems. The average drought cycle in Laikipia County has reduced from 5 to 3 years, affecting both crop and livestock production. In the county between 1984 to 2014, 53 per cent of the period received below-normal rainfall, while 40 per cent of the period received above-normal rainfall. More years, therefore, recorded below-normal rainfall, increasing the frequency of drought. For example, the 2009 drought impacted over 75 per cent of the crops, while 77.7 per cent of the households lost their livestock. Pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods are more vulnerable to the effects of drought in arid and semi-arid parts of the county due to over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture and natural pasture. Occurrences of drought leave households devastated and unable to cope without external support.enKenyaDroughtArticle