Absentee herd owners and part-time pastoralists: the political economy of resource use in northern Kenya

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Hum. Ecol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531093· OSTI ID:6861736

Little, P D

The prevalence of absentee herd ownership in Africa's pastoral areas is increasing. Its presence has important implications both for local resource management systems and for research programs that address pastoral ecology and related topics. This paper examines patterns of absentee herd ownership in the Baringo District of northern Kenya. This region has been the source of much debate regarding herder ''mismanagement'' of range lands. Three categories of absentee herd owners are discussed in the paper: (1) ranchers, (2) livestock traders, and (3) townsmen. It is suggested that the blame for some of the apparent resource mismanagement in the region may lie more with actors in these categories than with the pastoralists themselves. Data collected during an 18-month period in 1980-1981 on pastoral ecology, grazing patterns, and tenure institutions are presented in support of the argument. The paper concludes with a comparative analysis of contemporary resource management strategies in pastoral Africa, emphasizing that: (1) the Baringo case is not an isolated anomaly, and (2) a new orientation toward pastoral studies is warranted.

• Research Organization: Institute for Development Anthropology, Binghamton, NY
• OSTI ID: 6861736
• Journal Information: Hum. Ecol.; (United States), Journal Name: Hum. Ecol.; (United States) Vol. 13:2; ISSN HMECA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
AFRICA
ANIMALS
CATTLE
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ECOLOGY
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
KENYA
LAND USE
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
MARKETERS
OWNERSHIP
RANGELANDS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RETAILERS
RUMINANTS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
VERTEBRATES