The vanishing pastoralist way of life in Africa's rangelands

For generations, Kenya's pastoralist communities have relied on seasonal migration, communal land management and traditional ecological knowledge to sustain their livelihoods in some of the country's harshest environments.

But a combination of climate change, land division and rapid development is increasingly threatening that way of life, particularly in Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions.

Among those feeling the impact are the Maasai, whose pastoral traditions have long been tied to open rangelands and livestock grazing. In Kajiado County, community elders say expanding settlements, private land ownership and fencing are steadily reducing access to traditional grazing routes.

"This land used to be open. We could walk for miles to feed our animals. Today, everywhere you look, there are fences and buildings,"  Singile Olengongone, a pastoralist in Kajiado said. "If the grass disappears completely, our way of life goes with it."

The challenge extends far beyond Kenya. According to Landscape Alliance, Africa's rangelands cover about 43% of the continent's land surface, support an estimated 250 million people and contribute nearly 40% of agricultural GDP.

Experts warn that these landscapes are increasingly under pressure from population growth, land-use changes and climate-related shocks.

In Kenya, prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall have intensified water shortages, forcing many pastoralist families to travel long distances in search of water for both people and livestock.

For pastoralist and mother Abigael Ngilinda, securing water has become one of the most difficult parts of daily life.

"We rely on this water for everything, from cooking and drinking to washing clothes. It sustains every part of our lives," she said.

Climate scientists have repeatedly identified East Africa as one of the regions most vulnerable to climate variability. Longer dry spells and increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns have reduced pasture availability and placed additional strain on already fragile ecosystems.

Researchers say protecting rangelands will require greater investment in community-led conservation and sustainable land management practices.

"Communities must be at the center of restoration. You cannot manage rangelands sustainably if you do not involve the very people who live on them," said Irene Ng'ang'a, a research officer with the Livestock, Climate and Environment Program at the International Livestock Research Institute.

As governments and conservation groups work to restore degraded landscapes, pastoralist communities are increasingly calling for policies that safeguard both the environment and their traditional livelihoods.

For many families across Kenya's drylands, the future of pastoralism may depend on whether climate adaptation efforts and land management reforms can keep pace with the growing pressures facing these vital ecosystems.