Relentless heat and drought take a toll on herders’ physical and mental health, in Kenya and the US

Whether in Kenya or California, herders face dangerous temperatures and difficult conditions that put a strain on their health.

By: Anne Pisor, Penn State and Bonface Osindi, Washington State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 25, 2026

Words: 1,117

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Anne Pisor, Penn State and Bonface Osindi, Washington State University

If being outside in the heat for even a few minutes felt miserable this summer, imagine what it’s like for herders who are always out walking with their livestock and rarely get a break.

“We have never experienced such hot days,” a woman herder in northern Kenya told our research team in 2024. “It is difficult to [do things] outside [with] the high temperatures.”

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