Tension is high in the volatile Gathanji village in Laikipia County as residents’ protest over the killing of 45 years old Joseph Ngang’a by illegal grazers invading farms in the area.
Ng’ang’a succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital where he was admitted after being pierced with a spear by suspected illegal grazers on Thursday evening last week.
Yesterday, police officers at Minjore Police Post seized over 60 heads of cattle while grazing on other people’s farm and managed to arrest one suspect who is due to appear in court tomorrow.
The illegal grazers migrated to the area from Samburu and Isiolo Counties while in search of pasture and water for their animals.
The grazers are said to be armed with spears, rungus, and firearms, and were driving their cattle to people’s farms and when asked to leave, they turn against locals.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua has eulogized the deceased who was attacked while attempting to protect his property.
He regretted that cases of illegal grazers causing a breach of the peace were on the rise in the area, and called for action.
Leaders want a security operation to weed out the grazers whom they accused of causing destruction to crops and assaulting residents while armed with crude weapons.
