The nexus of oil, conflict, and climate change vulnerability of pastoral communities in Northwest Kenya

This paper focuses on pastoralism in the country of Turkana in northwest Kenya.

It highlights that an increase in drought frequency associated with global climate change and intensifying violent conflicts between pastoral groups, poses significant challenges for local communities. It points out that significant oil reserves have been discovered in the region which may compound the problem.

The paper aims to analyse how the oil exploration affects the communities’ vulnerability to climate change. Secondly, the paper explores the risk of 10 the oil explorations to create new conflicts or aggravate existing ones.

The findings are taken to suggest that the oil exploration increases the community’s vulnerability to climate change. Further, the paper argues, unmet community expectations for water, employment and development pose a significant risk for violent conflict between local communities and the operating oil company. Intercommunal conflict over water and 20 land could increase as well.

[Adapted from source]