Kenya: Karimojong pastoralists from Uganda and Turkana herders from Kenya are calling on the governments of both countries to establish joint meteorology equipment at the Turkana-Karamoja border. This appeal aims to provide timely weather information to pastoralists, enabling better preparation for livestock management.
The pastoralist communities expressed their plea during an interaction with this publication last Friday.
Mr. Timothy Lokuruka, chairman of Turkana pastoralists grazing in Moroto district, emphasized that the delayed dissemination of weather information leads to poor planning, resulting in the loss of livestock during droughts.
He urged the governments to introduce an efficient system along the border, employing individuals to provide detailed weather reports to pastoralists for improved grazing area planning.
Blaming migrations of pastoralists on the lack of a joint meteorology department, Lokuruka highlighted the importance of timely weather information to guide decisions on water and pasture locations.
Samuel Lokong, another pastoralist from Moroto, mentioned that while pastoralists have radios for grazing, they lack weather-focused programs due to the governments’ failure to provide detailed weather information.
Mark Lokoel, a Turkana pastoralist, questioned whether the lack of weather information was a deliberate move by the governments to keep pastoralists uninformed and facing challenges with their animals.
He noted that, since the beginning of the year, they have not received any information about the weather in Uganda or Kenya.
Uganda is currently hosting approximately 70,000 Turkana pastoralists who fled their region with around 200,000 heads of cattle, donkeys, camels, and goats due to drought. The pastoralists are grazing alongside the Karimojong in the areas of Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong districts.
John Emuria, an elder from Loyoro Sub County in Kaabong district, emphasized that Karamoja consistently faces drought, leading to annual dry conditions and people experiencing starvation.
