This testimonial is part of the campaign on climate justice launched by the CSIPM Youth Working Group. More information is available at this link: https://www.csm4cfs.org/youth-voices-for-climate-justice-and-the-right-to-food/
The case of Pokot Indigenous Peoples in Baringo County, Kenya
Climate change is a global issue that has over the years been one of the global priorities, leading to various conventions, agreements and treaties in order to address it. It has been felt more especially in the Global South, Africa feeling its impacts the most, despite her being the least contributor. In Kenya, most parts of the country, approximately 80% of the landmass is considered arid and semi-arid. Baringo County, where Pokot Indigenous People are, is one of the arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya. Pokot Indigenous Peoples, among most other indigenous Peoples in the same County, like Il-Chamus, Endorois and Ogiek, have been feeling these impacts the most.
Impacts on youth
Pokot Indigenous Peoples are pastoralists and have practiced this over the years. Youths play a major role in pastoralism as the key herders and protectors of these livestock. Climate change has however, through prolonged droughts, flooding and biodiversity loss, led to the decline in water, pastures and other plants that livestock feed on. This has therefore pushed the youths to move further in search of water and food for livestock, triggering conflicts with other communities and resource users.
The conflicts are exacerbated by the growing push for conservancies and carbon projects in the name of green solutions, robbing the community of land, which has been the grazing zone for their livestock. It has also led to cattle rustling as livestock continue to decline as a result of extended droughts, leading to death of livestock. Therefore, the youth are prone to frequent conflicts, more time for caring for the livestock as they look for water and pasture for long distances and limited food security and time for personal growth.
Impact on food systems
Pokot Indigenous Peoples depend highly on livestock and honey for their food. Livestock give them meat and milk while bees including stingless bees, give them honey. Extended droughts have led to one to two flowering seasons by most plants hence reducing the honey harvesting seasons and limitations on the quantity and quality of honey harvested. Honey and pastoralism is also affected by the land grabbing in the name of green solutions coming in carbon credits and conservancies hence greatly affecting these food systems. Indigenous seeds, especially crop varieties, are currently unlawful to share or sale in open markets hence shrinking the growth and use of Indigenous seeds and seed varieties, inclusive of livestock.
Key Messages to Global Leaders
- Climate change is a major global issue that is affecting Africa the most. Addressing Climate Change is a joint effort, therefore, all should put efforts on minimizing the release of greenhouse gas emissions intentionally, as the world is ours all.
- Climate change has been in existence over the years and Indigenous Peoples have been having their Indigenous ways of coping and adapting to climate change. Having a top-down approach of climate adaptation strategies is unsustainable, ineffective and unreliable. A locally-led adaptation strategy is reliable, sustainable and adoptable. Let Indigenous Peoples freely rear their Indigenous livestock, grow their Indigenous crops and practice their Indigenous ways of life without coercion or intimidation to doing what is not suitable for them.
- Conservancies and carbon credits are not there to help the communities, but to deprive them of their lands and Indigenous ways of life. Further, making these as a business prioritizes profit over community growth hence these are not sustainable initiatives. Locally-led Indigenous climate adaptation strategies are sustainable, reliable and effective amidst climate change.