Military to support Laikipia operations mounted against attackers

 

The government yesterday declared Laikipia a disturbed and  security operation area following a spate of attacks and burning of property by armed herders. 

The National Security Council chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta coincided with the deployment of military in the troubled region. 

The military will join a multi-agency operation ordered by government in a bid to restore normalcy at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy. 

Officials aware of the plans said the military will, among other things, give air support to the agencies involved in the operation to reach the gunmen causing havoc there.

This was agreed during a meeting of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) on Saturday to review the situation in Laikipia county.

The meeting noted that other agencies lack the capacity to reach where the gunmen are hiding. They are believed to be herders behind the attacks on civilians and security agencies.

The gang is hiding in gorges in the area and usually come out at night to graze and attack villages before retreating there.

The latest attack happened at the weekend, when they torched more than 40 houses, causing a mass exodus from villages.

More security personnel were sent to Laikipia to boost ongoing operations against bandits who are roaming there.

The NSAC meeting also agreed to recruit more National Police Reservists to help in the operations.

They agreed to talk to residents not to relocate because of insecurity and instead work with the multi-agency on the ground.

A follow-up planning and implementation meeting was held on Sunday in Nairobi.

NSAC is an advisory team composed of various government departments. The meeting on Saturday was more of an emergency over the persistence of attacks by the gunmen.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the government will change tack on its approach to insecurity in the county. This is after various interventions it had deployed failed to restore peace.

The PS described the Friday, September 3 killing of two people as the breaking point of the government’s patience.

Suspected bandits attacked Pewa Farm in Laikipia West and shot dead two people before escaping.

“The Cabinet Secretary issued an order, but we haven’t seen the desired response. We have tried persuasion and diplomatic approaches in vain. The regional commissioner is on the ground negotiating on our behalf, but nothing positive seems forthcoming. This is a matter we are now taking very seriously,” he said.

The PS also questioned local leaders' commitment to peace efforts in Laikipia and neighbouring counties.

He said leaders from the area have previously frustrated peace efforts and warned that the government will implement the necessary decisions arrived at during Saturday’s meeting, even if they are unpopular with the political class.

So far, at least 10 people have been killed in the area, and a dozen others injured in the past two months.

The government had on July 28 given herders who had invaded private farms in Laikipia seven days to move out of the county or face forceful evictions.

But they stayed put, prompting the operation.

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i warned the herders that a crackdown would follow the lapse of the ultimatum and urged them to leave within the window.

He blamed the encroaching herders for violent clashes with farmers and owners of private ranches and conservancies.

Matiang’i also announced an immediate takeover by security teams of the 80,000- acre Kilmon farm that is owned by the government.

The farm has been a theatre of deadly clashes between armed herders from Laikipia and the neighbouring counties.

A GSU camp was established at the parcel to create a buffer zone between the two warring sides.

The CS further ordered private ranchers and pastoralists to register agreements on access to pasture 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 ok. 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 announced that the Kenya Meat Commission, which is under the Kenya Defence Forces, will begin buying around 1,000 livestock weekly starting next week in an off-take deal brokered by the government.

The programme will complement a similar one being implemented by the Laikipia county government.

The council chaired by the president came two days after an earlier one by the National Security Advisory Committee. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said an operation will be conducted at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

A dawn to dusk curfew was declared in the area. Those with animals grazing in the ranches were given 48 hours to remove them. 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.     BY THE STAR