Known for their ability to survive in the desert, camels seem like a natural choice for Kenya's drought-stricken regions. A growing number of farmers are trading in their cows for camels. Their new livestock offer a number of advantages.
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00:00In the heart of central Kenya, this sight is becoming increasingly common.
00:05Camels wandering across the once cattle-dominated landscapes of Laikipia.
00:10For herdsmen like 65-year-old Abdullahi Mohamed, these camels are a lifeline.
00:17Before the drought, I earned a herd of 30 cattle.
00:21But when the drought hit, all but one of the cattle died, and now I'm only left with one.
00:28The 2020 drought was one of the worst Kenya has seen in decades.
00:33Across the country, thousands of herders lost their cattle as pastures disappeared,
00:38leaving families devastated and without their main source of livelihood.
00:42Up to 2.6 million cattle perished.
00:45These goats are the only traditional livestock that Abdullahi's family has left.
00:51They now mainly herd camels.
00:54Rearing cattle is difficult when the pasture is destroyed.
00:58Camels are easier to rear.
01:00They feed on shrubs and survive in harsher conditions.
01:04When the pasture dries out, the cattle die.
01:08Laikipia is feeling the impact of droughts spreading south.
01:13Unpredictable rains are turning its once green pastures into barren land.
01:20Neighbouring Samburu faces similar challenges.
01:24The ongoing drought means families have to travel long distances
01:28to fetch water for themselves and their animals.
01:3126-year-old Piti Musalia has been forced to adapt.
01:36The herdsman has also switched from cattle to camels.
01:42When the drought came and we owned a herd of 50 cattle,
01:46we sold them and bought five camels.
01:49The camels will help us survive until it rains again.
01:56Like many in the region, Musalia has learned that camels,
01:59with their ability to survive on less water and feed on tough vegetation,
02:04are better suited to the new reality.
02:07They can lose 30% of their body weight and survive.
02:10And they also have a higher milk yield than cows.
02:13But the move from cattle to camel herding is not without challenges.
02:20Cattle, their gestation period is nine months.
02:23But for camels, their gestation period is 11 to 14 months.
02:28So to multiply camels, it will require a longer time compared to cattle.
02:34So it may not be possible to get an economic card in camels as quickly as possible.
02:43For herders in central Kenya,
02:45the connection to their traditional livestock remains strong.
02:50Once the rains return, we can sell two or three camels
02:53to purchase a cow that produces milk.
02:57But for now, the switch is on.
03:01With the droughts, we have reduced pastures in the communities.
03:06And a way they can do to manage well the pastures is they can do rotational grazing,
03:14where they can paddock a few areas for use during drought season.
03:19But the challenge with that is that they have to be able to do it.
03:25If the traditional pastoralist way of life is to continue,
03:29communities have to find ways to share their resources
03:32and find climate-resilient alternatives.
03:35Camels can provide them with much-needed stability.