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Abstract

This paper discusses the dry land pastoral water and land management in the Samburu District by using the notion of key resources and the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Principles. In the Samburu District the majority of the inhabitants derive their livelihood from pastoralism. Their food production and income are based on the welfare of animals and the availability of water and pasture. The key resources are the persistent water and pasture found during dry periods and droughts as located in the landscape. There are also hand-made water points that constitute key resources during the initial phase of a dry period. The whole pastoral community is arranged around the management of the key resources. The management is coherent with the social structure of the community where elders, owners of cattle and young warriors are responsible for location and decision making regarding the resources. The pastoral community in Samburu perceives that drought, conflict and privatization are the current changes threatening the availability of key resources. The understanding of the dry land pastoralism water and land management must be based on the concept of key resources and the IWRM principles. The four principles of IWRM were water is seen as integrated with the surrounding landscape, as a vulnerable and limited resource and with a social and economic value with vulnerable users as part of a research, are suggested to frame a more appropriate research design.