Tension continues to build up in Laikipia County after suspected armed bandits torched a store in Merigwiti Primary School, a government school in Laikipia West.
The arson happened as George Natembeya – Regional Commissioner was addressing locals less than 5 kilometres away at Ol Moran Center.
According to police report, the store containing building materials (wood) caught fire which was promptly put out with no damage to the school.
“The school had been closed due to insecurity and no one was injured during the incident. Security has been intensified and investigation into the attempted arson is ongoing,” National Police Service said.
Natembeya said that the criminals use heavy and sophisticated firearms while police officers are using AK47 and G3 riffles.
“They are using M16 and other heavy rifles which are usually used by foreign armies when they come to train in Kenya. We don’t know how they get these weapons, but it is an issue worth investigating,” he said.
This came barely 24 hours after the Government announced a disarmament exercise in the region.
The government declared dusk to dawn curfew at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs.
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 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.
