Former Laikipia North Member of Parliament Mathew Lempurkel has been arrested over unrest in Laikipia County.
He was arrested from his home in Rongai, Kajiado County and was later moved to the Directorate of Criminal Investigative (DCI) offices in Nairobi area for questioning.
According to sleuths stated, Lempurkel is a person of interest in Laikipia clashes where several people have lost their lives and property due to skirmishes in the region.
Detectives drove him to Milimani Law Courts, to seek permission to hold him for days as they investigate him over the chaos.
This comes after the government announced a disarmament exercise in the region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i declared Laikipia as a disturbed area and launched security operation to flush out all illegal occupants.
“There will be an immediate takeover by security teams of 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,” he said.
Matiang’i noted that the area has continued to witness insecurity as a result of rampant cattle rustling arising from competition for water and pastures, as well as a surge in illegal gun ownership which has escalated the violence.
The government also declared dusk to dawn curfew at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs.