Across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), livestock is more than just an asset — it’s a lifeline. Recognising the critical role that livestock plays in the livelihoods of pastoralist communities, ASAL eXtension Ltd, with support from ACTED and USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), undertook a ground-breaking initiative to bridge gaps in animal health service delivery and knowledge. This initiative culminated in developing comprehensive livestock disease handbooks tailored to the unique needs of pastoralists in West Pokot, Samburu, Marsabit, and Turkana counties.
After one year of immersive data collection, the project conducted 92 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 766 livestock keepers — 484 men and 282 women — from the Pokot, Samburu, Turkana, Borana, Gabra, Rendille, and Daasanach communities. This participatory approach revealed a nuanced understanding of livestock diseases in local knowledge systems and scientific frameworks. The outcome is a set of handbooks that documents the priority livestock diseases affecting cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and chickens, but also integrates local disease names, community-recognized clinical signs, traditional (ethno veterinary) treatments, and conventional veterinary recommendations.
The project revealed how disease burdens differ by region, livestock species, and ethnic group, highlighting the need for location-specific solutions. Importantly, it captured the rich ethno veterinary knowledge — such as the use of Sekeket (Myrsine africana) while also identifying harmful practices that need re-evaluation in light of animal welfare standards.
This project has led to creating a user-friendly, visual handbook for veterinarians and deepened engagement between communities and veterinary services. Animal health providers are better equipped to recognize disease signs early and understand treatment options.
Ultimately, this initiative is a model of how participatory research, respect for indigenous knowledge, and scientific rigor can create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions for community resilience and animal health.
