Former Laikipia North Member of Parliament Mathew Lempurkel has been arrested in relation to the ongoing Laikipia clashes.
Lempurkel was arrested on Wednesday morning at his home in Ongata Rongai.
There have been perennial conflicts between pastoralists and ranchers in Laikipia County.
The clashes have left a trail of death and destruction of property in the area.
While visiting the area in July, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i blamed the herders for violent clashes with local farmers and owners of ranches and conservancies.
“We are preparing a serious crackdown. It’ll be ruthless and merciless, and I plead will all illegal herders to move out within the period,” the CS said.
Matiang’i also announced a takeover by security teams of the government-owned 80,000-acre Kilmon farm that has been a theatre of clashes between armed herders from Laikipia and the neighbouring counties.
The CS also announced the establishment of GSU camp on the land to create a buffer zone between the two warring sides.
The CS further ordered private ranchers and pastoralists to register agreements on access to pastures with the county government to enable the government to enforce the pacts and arbitrate disputes.
He said: “If you have an agreement with ranchers, that’s OK. But for the government to be able to provide security, we want such agreements recorded and the terms registered with the vounty government to help resolve disputes around them.”
