The government has declared dusk to dawn curfew at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs as security operation begins to flush out all illegal occupants.
This came after the National Security Council met and imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew and declared Laikipia as a disturbed area.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said an operation will be conducted at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.
“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 officials said politicians, a judge, senior military and police officers are among those who have illegally moved livestock into Laikipia conservancy.
“All leaders including politicians, businessmen, public officers and others who have illegally moved their livestock into the conflict zone to remove the same from there within 48 hours,” said Matiang’i in a statement.
Further, Matiang’i ordered private ranchers and pastoralists 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 okay. 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.
To help pastoralists in the county ease the pressure on grazing pastures and water points, Matiang’i further announced that the Kenya Meat Commission, which is under the Kenya Defence Forces, will begin buying around 1,000 livestock weekly from next week in an off-take deal brokered by the government.
On Friday, four security officers attached at Laikipia Nature Conservancy were attacked while at their camp by suspected bandits who have been hiding inside the conservancy.
They also killed two people in an attack, increasing to more than 10 people, those who have died in the past three months in conflict related to grazing fields.
The gang also torched more than 40 houses in the area during the weekend.
The bandits are believed to be behind a series of livestock thefts within the neighbouring villages of Laikipia.
The council ordered all leaders including politicians, businessmen, public officers and others who have illegally moved their livestock into the conflict zone to remove from there within the next 48 hours
