Kenya's neglected IDPs, internal displacement and vulnerability of pastoralist communities in northern Kenya

This report investigates the situation surrounding displaced pastoralists and gives recommendations.

Internal displacement has forced hundreds of thousands of pastoralists from their homes and lands in northern Kenya. There are estimated to be 200 000 to 400 000 displaced people in the region. Although the dire humanitarian consequences of this have persisted for decades, understanding and awareness of the issue, and responses to it, are woefully inadequate. The voices of internally displaced pastoralists often go unheeded in both national and international discourses in response to the crisis. This report investigates the situation surrounding these displaced pastoralists. It examines the causes of their displacement, the legal basis for their protection and the shortcomings in responding to the problem. To address these, the report gives recommendations for the government of Kenya, traditional leaders and donors.

Authors:

This study was written by Nuur Mohamud Sheekh of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre with contributions from Andrews Atta-Asamoah (Institute for Security Studies) and Dr Roba D. Sharamo (formerly of the ISS and now Team Leader, Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Unit, UNDP-Kenya)