INTERIOR Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has declared a dusk to dawn curfew in Laikipia Nature Conservancy to pave way for a security operation that kicked off on Monday.
In a statement, Matiang’i said the security operation will commence “with immediate effect” to flush out criminals.
The decision followed a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta that met on Monday after weeks of escalating insecurity that has led to loss of lives and displacement of many people.
“During this meeting, NSC noted 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,” Matiangi said.
The meeting by the president resolved that “Laikipia Nature Conservancy and its environs be immediately declared as a disturbed area and therefore a security operation zone.”
All leaders, including politicians, businessmen, public officers and others who have illegally moved their livestock into the conflict zone to remove them within 48 hours.
Since last week, some of the locals had started relocating for fear of attacks.
Monday’s directive by the government follows pleas from the Laikipia Nature Conservancy that sought intervention from the government so as to restore security in the area following rampant incidents of banditry and cattle rustling.
The conservancy said that farmers in neighbouring communities have long endured weekly livestock raids by armed bandits which lead to serious injuries to victims and sometimes deaths.
“Land degradation and competition for water and pasture is rising inexorably as cattle numbers rise. Together with low engagement in education and a surge in gun ownership, these strains are leading to escalating violence and rising destabilization,” the conservancy said in a statement.
The situation has been compounded over the last five months by an incursion by several hundred armed herders from Tiaty, Baringo County, and Nagum in Laikipia North, with over 15,000 heads of livestock.
The incursion, the conservancy said, has also now seen the schools in the area close and relief programmes suspended.
“The incursion of armed herders has also forced the conservancy to stop a partnership with the local pastoralist community and the National Drought Management Authority to use its pasture reserves to the benefit of local communities. This has put local pastoralists’ livelihoods at stake at a time of drought,” the conservancy said.
One of the Conservancy’s Directors, Kuki Gallmann, was shot in May after she came across a party of 40 armed raiders who were on a cattle rustling mission from the neighbouring Samburu community.
“She was shot below the knee with one bullet, through the door of her car. She was immediately evacuated to hospital in Nairobi for treatment. Her surgery was successful, but complications arose with her after-care and she is still hospitalized,” the conservancy noted. She is still hospitalised.
