Livestock production systems were overlaid with the relative degree of poverty found in Kenya. In the maps below, tight cross-hatching is used for districts where more than 60% of households fall below the absolute poverty line—they can perhaps be thought of as ‘very poor’ districts; 40–60% of households falling below the poverty line are shown with wider cross-hatching, or ‘poor’ districts; and less than 40% of households with incomes below the poverty line shown with very wide cross-hatching, i.e. the ‘less poor’ districts. The objective of this exercise was to see if there were any discernible spatial patterns linking livestock systems and poverty levels.
     In 6 of Kenya’s 17 poorest districts (where more than 60% of the households cannot meet basic subsistence needs), much of the area is occupied by livestock only, rangeland-based arid/semi-arid systems (Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, West Pokot, Taita Taveta—note that districts are located by name in Map 14a). In another three of the poorest districts (Kilifi, Kwale, Kitui), these systems cover one-quarter or less of the total district area (Map 13a). In one-quarter of the poor districts (i.e. 40–60% of households fall below the poverty line), rangeland-based livestock systems are extremely important (Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, Narok, Transmara). The rangeland-based livestock systems are also important in five of the nine least-poor districts (<40% poverty), including Baringo, Nyeri, Laikipia, Tana River and Kajiado. 
     While those districts where pastoralism is widespread do not always fall into the poorest category, the wealthier districts with rangeland-based systems have some highlands and are those with either many large-scale private ranches (e.g. Laikipia, Baringo) or those located closer to markets (Kajiado). The exception to this is Tana River. 
     Mixed rainfed temperate/tropical highland systems are important in 4 of 17 of Kenya’s poorest districts (Bomet, Kisii, Nandi and Machakos, Map 13b). They are also found in 7 of 20 poor districts: Narok, Nakuru, Kericho, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Nzoia and Bungoma. One-quarter of the least-poor districts (5 of 20) have substantial areas of the mixed rainfed highland/temperate category—Kiambu, Embu, Nyeri, Laikipia and Nyandarua. In general, there seems to be a lower poverty rate in this system. 
     The mixed rainfed arid/semi-arid system (Map 13c) is found in substantial areas of 9 out of 17 of the poorest districts, 5 out of 20 of the poor districts and only 2 out of 9 of the least-poor districts. Poverty does appear to be relatively high in this system. 
     The mixed rainfed humid/subhumid system (Map 13d) is important in 6 out of 17 of the poorest districts, and 4 out of 20 of the poor districts but in none of the least-poor districts. Thus, relatively high poverty in this system also seems to be quite widespread.