Intersecting (im)mobilities in the context of drought, hunger and conflict – Reflections inspired by research in Kenya.

KENYA; HORN of Africa

The article discusses the impact of a severe drought in the Horn of Africa between late 2020 and early 2023. The drought, which was the worst in over 40 years, led to a severe food crisis affecting almost 57 million people across eight countries. While Kenya was not the worst affected, the situation there deteriorated rapidly. The drought, along with poverty, marginalization, economic shocks, and violent conflict, contributed to food insecurity and disrupted people's mobility. The article explores the different forms of mobility, such as pastoral mobility, sedentarization, forced displacement, and voluntary labor and educational mobility, and how they were shaped by the drought and conflict. The authors argue that the impacts of climate change, violent conflict, and socio-economic ruptures need to be understood in relation to each other. They caution against simplistic narratives of "climate refugees" and emphasize the need for a nuanced understanding of the complex factors influencing migration patterns and people's lives. [Extracted from the article]

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