LAIKIPIA,Kenya, Aug 1 – A General Service Unit officer was Saturday killed by suspected bandits at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy amidst ongoing banditry attacks that has plagued the county pitting local herders and private ranch owners.
According to preliminary reports, the officer was out on patrol at the expansive conservancy when he was ambushed by suspected bandits.
“He was shot dead while on a routine patrol and the bandits fled off,” said detectives probing the incident.
Area leaders who visited affected communities called on police to heighten security citing that various people are undermining the peace efforts in the region among them politicians spewing hate speech and inciting locals.
On Thursday, armed people indiscriminately shot at residents in Wangwachi village, killing one person.
According to Laikipia West Sub County Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Steven Ambani, a 37-year old man identified as Martin Kingori Njeri who was riding on a bicycle along the LNC cutline security road was fatally shot by an unknown number of bandits hiding inside the conservancy.
The increasing number of banditry attacks in Laikipia West has left at least five schools closed in the recent spate of violence.
As a result of the attacks, hundreds of livestock have also been stolen.
The fate of 2,000 learners now hangs in the balance in the five schools; Wangwachi primary, Bondeni Primary school, Kabati Primary, Mirango Primary and Kabati day Secondary school.
Learners nationwide recently went back to school for the first term of this year’s education calendar.
The attacks were first reported on Wednesday then Thursday in Ol Moran ward that neighbours the Laikipia Nature conservancy.
At least 20 households were attacked in Wangwachi and Bondeni villages.
Earlier this week, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr, Fred Matiang’i said the government will conduct a crackdown on illegal herders said to have invaded private farms in Laikipia county.
He issued a seven-day ultimatum to facilitate a gracious vacation from the properties.
“We are preparing a serious crackdown. It’ll be ruthless and merciless, and I plead will all illegal herders to move out within the period,” said Matiang’i.
“The government will not hesitate to use force, if necessary, with a view to protecting the lives and private property bearing the brunt of invasions.”
Speaking at the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) camp in Naibor in Laikipia County, at an event attended by the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, senior security officers and local leaders led by area Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, Matiang’i said security teams have already taken over the 80,000- acre Kilmon farm that is owned by the Government and that has been a theatre of deadly clashes between armed herders from Laikipia and the neighbouring counties.
A GSU camp will be established at the farm to create a buffer zone between the two warring sides.
Meanwhile, private ranchers and pastoralists have been directed to register agreements on access to pastures with the County Government, beginning next month to enable the government to enforce the pacts and arbitrate bloody disputes around their implementation.
“If you have an agreement with ranchers, that’s OK. But for the Government to be able to provide security, we want such agreements recorded and the terms registered with the County Government to help resolve disputes around them,” he said.
In an off take deal brokered by the government, the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), which is under the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), will begin buying around 1,000 livestock weekly from next week in a bid to empower local communities.
The program will compliment a similar one being implemented by the Laikipia County Government.
“We urge pastoralists to take advantage of the offer to reduce their losses due to drought and improve the productivity of their livestock,” said Governor Muriithi.
Matiang’i also put on notice local politicians whom he accused of fanning violent clashes by sponsoring relocation and forceful displacement of residents to rearrange voter distribution in the area ahead of the 2022 general elections.
He said the government will begun recruiting chiefs and their assistants for new administrative units in the area, a move that will not only help contain the sponsored evictions but also decentralize security services.
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