Assessing Water Availability Under Pastoral Livestock Systems in Drought-prone Isiolo District, Kenya

This report thus presents the results of a study to determine access to water sources by pastoral communities and their livestock in Isiolo District of Kenya, with special focus on water availability during drought conditions. The study was conducted between 2002 and 2003. It utilized GIS tools and information gathered through rapid assessments involving researchers, government officers, local communities and NGOs. Isiolo is an ASAL district in Eastern Province of Kenya, where pastoral livestock systems form the main economic activity, but water scarcity and recurrent drought are major constraints. From the study, GIS thematic maps were developed to include rainfall distribution, land use-cover, drainage systems, hydrogeology and grazing potential as well as types and location of water sources, their operational status and major characteristics.