The Range Management Handbook of Kenya was a cooperative effort between German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the Republic of Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Marketing (Range Management Division). It ran from 1987-1995.
Consisting of 23 separately bound reports by multiple authors, the Range Management Handbook of Kenya was developed for the arid and semi-arid rangelands of northern Kenya, with Volume III reports also relevant to climatically similar rangelands elsewhere in eastern Africa. It provided easy-to-use information for planning, advisory, instructional, and research purposes. The Handbook remains a valuable resource for these purposes despite changes that have taken place on Kenya’s rangelands since 1995. Copies of the Handbook’s reports are now hard to find, which is why they are being made available here.
The nine districts for which the Handbook was developed cover an area of about 250,000 sq. km (96,525 sq. miles), or roughly half of Kenya.


Component reports of the Range Management Handbook of Kenya (Ignore the right-hand column; see actual availability below.)
Vegetation regions of Eastern Africa based on dominant grass species. Volume III reports may be applicable to one or more of regions 6 – 11.

(Vegetation map modified from Herlocker, D., Dirschl, H.J., & G. Frame. 1993. Grasslands of East Africa, p. 221-264. In: R.T. Coupland (ed.), Natural Grasslands: Eastern Hemisphere & Resume. Ecosystems of the World 8B. Elsevier, Amsterdam.)
I want to thank Juergen Schwartz for providing digitized copies of several reports / maps, and Jon Herlocker for financial and technical assistance in digitizing the others, and in then getting the information on-line.
Please note:
Instead of Volume I, look for the User’s Guide for the Range Management Handbook of Kenya in Volume III (Volume III,4).
A few Volume II maps, and one Volume III report are missing because they could not be found or were poorly digitized. I hope to eventually remedy this situation.
Volume I
Volume II
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,1 – Marsabit
Vol II,1 Marsabit District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Marsabit Map 01 – Physical and General
Marsabit Map 02 – Range Condition
Marsabit Map 03 – Median Annual Rainfall
Marsabit Map 04 – Median Rainfall of the First Rainy Season (Long Rains)
Marsabit Map 05 – Median Rainfall of the Second Rainy Season (Short Rains)
Marsabit Map 06 – 66% Probability of the Rainfall fo the First Rainy Season
Marsabit Map 07 – 66% Probabiility of the Rainfall of the Second Rainy Season
Marsabit Map 08 – 66% Probability of the Length of the First Growing Season
Marsabit Map 09 – 66% Probability of the Length of the Second Growing Season
Marsabit Map 10 – Production Risk due to Lacking Rainfall
Marsabit Map 11 – Eco-Climatic Zones
Marsabit Map 12 – Landforms and Soil Table (Legend)
Marsabit Map 12 – Landforms and Soils
Marsabit Map 13 – Rated Levels of Productive Capability
Marsabit Map 14 – Ratings of Social Erosion Hazard
Marsabit Map 15 – Ratings of Restrictions in Accessibility – Landforms and Soils
Marsabit Map 16 – Ratings of Restrictions in Accessbility During Wet Season
Marsabit Map 18 – Type and Location of Water Sources
Marsabit Map 19 – Distance to Permanent Water
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,2 – Samburu
Vol II,2 Samburu District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Samburu District – Map 1 – Physical and General
Samburu District – Map 2 – Median Annual Rainfall
Samburu District – Map 3 – Median Rainfall of the First Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 3a Median rainfall “Continental Rains”, First Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 4 – Median Rainfall of the Second Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 5 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall of the First Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 6 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall of the Second Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 7 – 66% Reliability of the Length of the First Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 8 – 66% Reliability of the Length of the Second Rainy Season
Samburu District – Map 9 – Production Risk Due to Lack of Rainfall
Samburu District – Map 11 – Landforms & Soils (Legend)
Samburu District – Map 11 – Landforms and Soils
Samburu District – Map 12 – Relative Productive Capacity of Soils
Samburu District – Map 13 – Soil Erosion Hazard
Samburu District – Map 14 – Landforms & Soil Related Restrictions in Accessibility for Livestock
Samburu District – Map 15 – Wet Season Restrictions in Accessibility for Livestock
Samburu District – Map 16 – Soil Moisture Availability
Samburu District – Map 17 – Vegetation
Samburu District – Map 18 – Range Condition
Samburu District – Map 19 – Range Units
Samburu District – Map 20 – Types & Locations of Water Sources
Samburu District – Map 22 (Livestock Diseases)
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,3 – Mandera and Wajir
Vol II,3 Wajir District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol II,4 Mandera District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 1 – Physical & General
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 2 – Median Annual Rainfall
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 3 – Median Rainfall of the First Rainy Season
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 4 – Median Annual Rainfall of rhe Second Rainy Season
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 5 – 66% Reliability of the First Rainy Season (mm)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 6 – 66% Reliability of the Second Rainy Season (mm)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 7 – 66% Reliability of the First Rainy Season (Decades)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 8 – 66% Reliability of the Second Rainy Season (Decades)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 9 – Production Risks Due to Lack of Rainfall
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 11 – Landforms & Soils
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 11a – Landforms & Soils (Legend)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 11b – Landforms & Soils (Legend)
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 12 – Richness in Soils Minerals
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 13 – Soil Erosion Hazard
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 15 – Wet Season Restrictions in Accessibility of Livestock
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 16 – Soil Moisture Availability
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 17 – Vegetation
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 18 – Range Condition
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 19 – Range Units
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 20 – Geology
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 21 – Run-off Regions and Type and Location of Water Sources
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 22 – Distance to Permanent Water
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 23 – Distance to Seasonal Water
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 24 – Livestock Marketing Routes
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 25 – LIvestock Diseases
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 26 – Major Migration Routes
Mandera & Wajir Districts – Map 27 – Distribution of Locally Named Soil Types
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,5 – Isiolo
Vol II,5 Isiolo District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Isiolo Map 1 – Physical and General
Isiolo Map 2 – Median Annual Rainfall
Isiolo Map 3 – Median Rainfall of the First Rainy Season
Isiolo Map 4 – Median Rainfall of the Second Rainy Season
Isiolo Map 5 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall of the First Rainy Season
Isiolo Map 7 – 66% Reliability of the Length of the First Rainy Season
Isiolo Map 8 – 66% Reliabiloty of the Length of the Second Rainy Season
Isiolo Map 9 – Production Risk Due to Lack of Rainfall
Isiolo Map 10 – Landforms and Soils (Legend)
Isiolo Map 10 – Landforms and Soils
Isiolo Map 11 – Soil Fertility
Isiolo Map 12 – Soil Erosion Hazard
Isiolo Map 13 – Landform and Soil-related Restrictions in Accessibility for Livestock
Isiolo Map 14 – Wet Season Restrictions in Accessibility for Livestock
Isiolo Map 15 – Soil Water Holding Capacity
Isiolo Map 16 – Distribution of Locally Named (Boran) Soil Types
Isiolo Map 18 – Range Condition
Isiolo Map 19 – Run-off Regions and Location of Boreholes
Isiolo Map 20 – Water Resources and Distance to Permanent Water
Isiolo Map 21 – Water Resources and Distance to Seasonal Water
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,6-7 – Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet
Vol II,6 Baringo District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol II,7 Elgeyo Marakwet District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 01 – Physical and General
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 02 – Median Annual Rainfall
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 03 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 04 – 66% Reiliability of the Length of the Rainy Season
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 05 – Drought Thresholds
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 06 – Landforms and Soils
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 06a – Landforms and Soils (Legend)
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 06b – Landforms and Soils – (Legend)
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 07 – Landforms
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 08 – Status of Erosion
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 09 – Permanent Restrictions on Lifestock Movements
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 10 – Wet Season Restrictions on Lifestock Movements
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 11 – Soil Moisture Availability
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 12 – Vegetation
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 13 – Range Condition
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 14 – Geology
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 15 – Run-Off Regions and Type and Location of Water Sources
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 16 – Water Sources and Distance to Water
Elgeyo – Baringo Map 21 – Range Units
Grazing Days
Baringo Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Camels
Baringo Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Cattle
Baringo Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Goats
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,8 – West Pokot
Vol II,8 – West Pokot District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
West Pokot District – Map 1 – Physical & General
West Pokot District – Map 2 – Median Annual Rainfall
West Pokot District – Map 3 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall
West Pokot District – Map 4 – 66% Reliability of length of Rainy Season
West Pokot District – Map 5 – Drought Thresholds
West Pokot District – Map 6 – Landforms & Soils (Legend)
West Pokot District – Map 6 – Landforms & Soils
West Pokot District – Map 7 – Landforms
West Pokot District – Map 8 – Soil Water Holding Capacity
West Pokot District – Map 9 – Richness in Soil Minerals
West Pokot District – Map 10 – Status of Erosion
West Pokot District – Map 11 – Permanent Restrictions Livestock Movements
West Pokot District – Map 12 – Wet Season Restrictions on Livestock Movements
West Pokot District – Map 13 – Vegetation
West Pokot District – Map 14 – Range Condition
West Pokot District – Map 15 (Geology)
West Pokot District – Map 16 – Run-Off Regions & Type & Location of Water Sources
West Pokot District – Map 17- Water Sources & Distance to Water
West Pokot District – Map 18 – Range Units
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,9 – Turkana
Vol II,9 Turkana District – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Turkana District – Map 1 – Physical and General
Turkana District – Map 2 – Median Annual Rainfall
Turkana District – Map 3 – 66% Reliability of Rainfall
Turkana District – Map 4 – 66% Reliability of the Length of the Rainy Season
Turkana District – Map 5 – Drought Thresholds
Turkana District – Map 6 – Landforms and Soils
Turkana District – Map 6 Landforms and Soils (Legend)
Turkana District – Map 7 – Landforms
Turkana District – Map 8 – Soil Water Holding Capacity
Turkana District – Map 9 – Richness In Soil Minerals
Turkana District – Map 10 – Status of Erosion
Turkana District – Map 11 – Permanent Restrictions on Livestock Movements
Turkana District – Map 12 – Wet Season Restrictions on Livestock Movements
Turkana District – Map 13 – Vegetation
Turkana District – Map 14 – Range Condition
Turkana District – Map 15 – Geology
Turkana District – Map 16 – Run-off Regions and Type and Location of Water Sources
Turkana District – Map 17 – Water Sources and Distance to Water
Turkana District – Map 18 – Territorial Sections of the Turkana People
Turkana District – Map 19 – Range Units
Range Unit Inventory Maps
Turkana Map – Biomass – Accessible Herb Layer Forage Biomass
Turkana Map – Biomass – Total Herb Layer Forage Biomass
Turkana Map – Permanent Restrictions to Access by Livestock
Turkana Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days by Camels
Turkana Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Cattle
Turkana Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Goats
Turkana Map – Recommended Number of Grazing Days for Sheep
Turkana Map – Water Availability
Range Management Handbook of Kenya – Vol. II,10-12 – Climatology and Livestock Diseases
Volume III
Vol III,2 – Supplement 1 – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol III,2 – Supplement 2 – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol III,4 – Users Guide to the Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol III,8 – Camel Keeping in Kenya – Range Management Handbook of Kenya
Vol III,9 – A Compendium of Important Forage Plants – Range Management Handbook of Kenya