Ledama Olekina opposed calls for reducing the number of livestock to cut down on methane emissions, saying it would hurt pastoralist communities.
The Narok Senator spoke at a climate seminar in Nairobi and said cattle remain central to the Maasai community’s economy, culture and livelihood.
Ledama said smaller herds would be detrimental to families that depend on livestock for income and survival.
“How can I reduce my livestock? I need my cows to feed my family,” he asked.
The senator said that herders will resist policies that limit cattle ownership and appealed to leaders to find ways to save the environment and help herders.
He also called on rich countries and big industry to do more to take responsibility for global emissions.
Ledama Olekina said environmental laws and carbon credit projects already limit Maasai communities’ access to grazing land.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is released into the atmosphere through livestock, waste, and fossil fuel activities. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 55% to 65% of Kenya’s methane emissions are from livestock.
“Cutting methane may help slow global warming, but millions of African households depend on livestock for food, income and cultural identity,” Amason Kingi said.
