Drought public disaster is one of the challenges tremendously hampering the development of Ethiopia. Ethiopian highest share of Growth Domestic Product (GDP) is coming from the agriculture sector and pastoralists. Ethiopian mode of production majorly depends on the rain. Drought is one of the most catastrophic natural disasters regarding the spatial extent, duration, and long-term socio-economic implication to pastoralists' livelihood. The objective of this paper is to assess the challenges of leadership in drought risk management. The research used qualitative analysis. Primary data gathered through a key informant interview. Fifteen (15) public managers have participated in key informant interviews. The study explored lack of strategizing and proactive planning, untimely response, lack of community mobilization and participation, loss of decentralization, inadequate coordination and integration of development, lack of communication, and dependency as challenges facing leadership in drought disaster risk management. The paper concludes that to transform pastoralists' livelihood and build drought-resilient pastoralists, leadership in the area requires understanding the challenges. Critically understanding public leadership challenges is imperative for drought intervention per the disaster risk reduction policy.