Pastoralism is the main source of livelihood for the people of northern Kenya. The ownership of livestock rests primarily with the men and is their livelihood and passion. The gum collectors therefore are mainly the pastoralist women who pluck the gums off the stems and branches of the trees, which ooze naturally from the bark of the trees, from cracks or insect activity. 

Many of the nomadic people have a long tradition of perfumery mixing resins with other aromatic woods to make incense. The resins ooze naturally from the bark of the trees, from cracks or insect activity.