The government has been accused of applying double standards while protecting people’s property in the ongoing invasions in Laikipia County.
Laikipia East Member of Parliament Antony Mutahi said that police officers carrying out the operation have been concentrating with large farms only that are owned by ranchers leaving small scale farmers at the mercy of herders. Mutahi said that farmers in the region have been counting losses after the herders who are evicted from the private ranches grazed their animals in their farms.
He urged the government to ensure every citizen’s right is guarded to enhance integration and security in the volatile areas. The Mp asked the government to consider reviewing land leases in the county revealing that the land meant for conservancies have been converted to farming thereby accelerating human wildlife conflict.
He noted that the herders have been pushed by the escalating drought from their counties and should be treated with care to solve the invasion problems In the recent past, the county has experienced massive private lands invasions by migrant herders from Baringo, Samburu and Isiolo counties leaving 10 policemen dead and several others injured including Laikipia West OCPD Berengo Muherai who is nursing bullet wounds in hospital.
It is estimated that 1,000 migrant herders with over135,000 heads of cattle have occupied private lands in Laikipia. Laikipia county commissioner Onesmus Kyatha has however noted that the security situation is not as worse as it is being depicted. Speaking in his office Kyatha urged the ranchers to work with the security officers as they enter into agreements with the herders on how to graze in their farm.