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

Researchers studying pastoralists in northern Kenya used smartwatches and temperature loggers on 30 herders over three months, recording daytime peaks between 88.7 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and found that as temperatures rose, reports of heat-related illness symptoms rose too. A prior survey following a 2020-2023 drought that killed 13.2 million livestock across the Horn of Africa found most herders reported headaches, breathing problems and extreme sweating, alongside stress and hopelessness.

The researchers note similar risks for shepherds on the open range in the U.S., who often work under temporary visas in states like Colorado and California, living in trailers without air conditioning and going largely unmonitored between employer visits. A California state report warned employers must have heat illness prevention plans, underscoring that herders can die from heat exposure with little means of reaching medical help in time.

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