Mobile pastoralism remains a critical livelihood strategy for communities residing in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where environmental unpredictability, limited arable land, and recurrent droughts render sedentary agriculture unsustainable. This study explores the role of mobile pastoralism in sustaining household food security among pastoralist communities in arid regions, with a focus on mobility as an adaptive mechanism to climate variability and resource scarcity. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data collected from pastoral households in Northern Kenya, the study analyzes the extent to which seasonal livestock movement contributes to food access, income stability, and dietary diversity.

Findings indicate that mobile pastoralism enhances food security by enabling efficient use of dispersed grazing resources, maintaining herd productivity, and facilitating market access for livestock and livestock products. Households practicing seasonal migration reported higher livestock survival rates during droughts, greater milk availability, and more stable income streams compared to their sedentary counterparts. However, challenges such as land fragmentation, insecurity, and restrictive policies increasingly constrain mobility, undermining pastoral resilience and food security outcomes.