NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – The Laikipia Nature Conservancy is urging the government to intervene and restore security in the area following rampant incidents of banditry and cattle rustling.
The conservancy said that farmers in neighbouring communities have long endured weekly livestock raids by armed bandits which lead to serious injuries to victims and sometimes deaths.
“Land degradation and competition for water and pasture is rising inexorably as cattle numbers rise. Together with low engagement in education and a surge in gun ownership, these strains are leading to escalating violence and rising destabilization,” the conservancy said in a statement issued Saturday.
The situation has been compounded over the last five months by an incursion by several hundred armed herders from Tiaty, Baringo County, and Nagum in Laikipia North, with over 15,000 heads of livestock.
The incursion, the conservancy said, has also now seen the schools in the area close and relief programmes suspended.
“The incursion of armed herders has also forced the conservancy to stop a partnership with the local pastoralist community and the National Drought Management Authority to use its pasture reserves to the benefit of local communities. This has put local pastoralists’ livelihoods at stake at a time of drought,” the conservancy said.
One of the Conservancy’s Directors, Kuki Gallmann, was shot in May after she came across a party of 40 armed raiders who were on a cattle rustling mission from the neighbouring Samburu community.
“She was shot below the knee with one bullet, through the door of her car. She was immediately evacuated to hospital in Nairobi for treatment. Her surgery was successful, but complications arose with her after-care and she is still hospitalized,” the conservancy noted. She is still hospitalised.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi in July ordered illegal herders from Isiolo, Samburu and Baringo who have invaded private ranches in Laikipia County to vacate or face forceful expulsion by security services.
Security forces will take over the 8,000-acre Kilimoni Farm to act as a buffer zone to keep off the herders, who he described as a source of insecurity.
About The Author
