The promise made by the Interior and National Coordination CS Dr Fred Matiang’a still stands
By The Mountain Journal
The Laikipia Nature and Conservancy has been accused of harbouring the criminals behind spate of banditry attacks in parts of Laikipia West associated with massive destruction of property and deaths.
In the past two months, the 100,000 acres of ranch have been the battle field between the illegal grazers, the law enforcers and the community, with reports of deaths of nine people and tens of livestock stolen.
The illegal grazers who have encroached the vast ranch are believed to be from Baringo, Isiolo, Samburu counties and beyond in the duration have caused havoc.
Ms Syveva Gallman aka Makena, a manager has come into public limelight detailing the suffering and destruction estimated at Sh20 million, left behind by the gangs hiding in the vast ranch.
The director said that the illegal grazers have destroyed half of the electric fence that surrounds the 88,000 hectares of land situated in Laikipia west.
This has resulted in the wild animals living in the ranch moving out and destroying farmers’ crops causing untold suffering to the neighbours, after they went through banditry attacks fronted by the gangs of criminals.
A school built to benefit local residents by the ranch is among the development programmes initiated that were left in ruins.
“We have been witnessing this whenever there is an election. But this is one of the worst scenarios that we have witnessed,’ said Gallman, a daughter of conservationist and author Kukki Gallman.
Kukki is recovering after this year had an encounter with the bandits five months ago in the expansive ranch with regrets that the gangs are still operating irrespective of deployment of heavily armed police.
“We have seen the government’s armed enforcement units, but the illegal grazers are still here despite the assurance given that they will be removed from the private properties,” she said.
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