Dutch holidaymakers was attacked by a mob of Pokot invaders at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy on Friday night.
Harm Duiker, head of Dutch development organisation SNV, together with six others, were confronted in their Safari vehicle by more than 10 Pokot youths armed with crude weapons, who blocked their way with boulders.
The youths threw stones at the tourists, smashing the vehicle’s windscreen and windows. The visitors escaped unhurt after an AP officer escorting them fired twice in the air, forcing the attackers to flee.
This is the latest in a string of incidents targetting foreign tourists in Laikipia, where private conservancies and farms are being invaded by thousands of Pokot and Samburu herders and their livestock.
Residents say politicians are inciting the violence.
A number of people were killed in 2016, many displaced and property destroyed.
Last month, President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe as mediator in the problems affecting the area.
Leaders have, however, said the situation does not need mediation or peace caravans, but total eviction of the herders.
Led by Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, the leaders met security officers and NCIC chairperson Francis ole Kaparo in Nanyuki last month to seek the way forward in restoring security.
During the meeting, Laikipia East MP Antony Mutahi blamed armed herders from Samburu, Baringo and Isiolo for the increased criminal activities.
“This is not a standoff that requires a mediator, all we want is for the government to flush out all these herders. They are grazing on privately owned ranches with total disregard to the owners.”
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Showing posts with label Isiolo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isiolo. Show all posts
Friday, 17 March 2017
Thursday, 2 February 2017
KENYA: UK Issues travel Ban Over Raid On Ranches In Laikipia
The British government has issued a travel warning to its citizens about visiting Laikipia County over recent invasions of private ranches by herders.
The warning follows reports of several attacks on ranches by armed herders, who have moved from neighbouring counties in search of pasture due to the prolonged dry season.
The warning issued late Tuesday states in part: “Following an extended period of drought, there’s been an increase in armed incursions on to private farms and wildlife conservation areas in the county of Laikipia in central Kenya, which some foreign visitors have been caught up in.”
The UK clarified that the travel warning does not restrict its citizens from travelling to the region.
Unlike a travel advisory, which would restrict all but essential travel, the warning, referred to as a "factual update" in diplomatic circles, gives the nationals freedom to decide whether or not to travel to the region, according to Stephen Burns, the British High Commission’s head of communication in Kenya and Somalia.
“In this instance a factual update has (been) issued. The UK has not issued a travel advisory against Laikipia county,” he said in a statement.
Herders burn lodge in a Laikipia ranch.
The latest attack by herders happened on Sunday at the Suyian ranch in Laikipia North.
A lodge at the ranch was closed indefinitely after one herder was shot dead during a fire exchange with police officers.
In his tour of Laikipia and Samburu counties recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned pastoralists against invading private ranches.
Most herders from Samburu, Isiolo, Baringo and West Pokot counties, among others, have invaded Laikipia in search of pasture and water as the drought continues to ravage most parts of Kenya.
The warning follows reports of several attacks on ranches by armed herders, who have moved from neighbouring counties in search of pasture due to the prolonged dry season.
The warning issued late Tuesday states in part: “Following an extended period of drought, there’s been an increase in armed incursions on to private farms and wildlife conservation areas in the county of Laikipia in central Kenya, which some foreign visitors have been caught up in.”
The UK clarified that the travel warning does not restrict its citizens from travelling to the region.
Unlike a travel advisory, which would restrict all but essential travel, the warning, referred to as a "factual update" in diplomatic circles, gives the nationals freedom to decide whether or not to travel to the region, according to Stephen Burns, the British High Commission’s head of communication in Kenya and Somalia.
“In this instance a factual update has (been) issued. The UK has not issued a travel advisory against Laikipia county,” he said in a statement.
Herders burn lodge in a Laikipia ranch.
The latest attack by herders happened on Sunday at the Suyian ranch in Laikipia North.
A lodge at the ranch was closed indefinitely after one herder was shot dead during a fire exchange with police officers.
In his tour of Laikipia and Samburu counties recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned pastoralists against invading private ranches.
Most herders from Samburu, Isiolo, Baringo and West Pokot counties, among others, have invaded Laikipia in search of pasture and water as the drought continues to ravage most parts of Kenya.
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
KENYA: Kenya To Ethiopia Highway
Kenya to Ethiopia highway stretch under construction between Isiolo and Marsabit is now reportedly also complete, finally linking Mombasa via Nairobi with Addis Ababa by an all tarmac road. The distance from Nairobi to Addis Ababa covers some 1.560 kilometres while from the Kenyan port city of Mombasa this swells to 2.050 kilometres.
Landlocked Ethiopia, which lost access to the sea when Eritrea gained independence and has since, as a result of hostile relations between the two, had to resort to using the port of Djibouti, has long sought to open up alternate and safer routes to other ports. An electric rail line between Addis Ababa and Djibouti was recently opened, adding a key traffic artery for imports and exports but the road link to the Kenyan capital and to Mombasa nevertheless is thought to be hugely important as a strategic link.
On the Kenyan side are the two remaining stretches of the new highway, financed at a cost of over half a billion US Dollars by the European Union and the Kenyan government, now complete, linking the Northern Kenyan towns of Isiolo and Marsabit with the border town of Moyale.
On the Ethiopian side was the tarmac highway already completed for some time, just waiting to be linked to the Kenyan portion before a generation old dream to link the wider Eastern African region with a major highway has now become reality
A one stop border post will also be installed, like between the East African Community countries, to make transit of cargo and people easier and facilitate an increase in trade and travel.
Landlocked Ethiopia, which lost access to the sea when Eritrea gained independence and has since, as a result of hostile relations between the two, had to resort to using the port of Djibouti, has long sought to open up alternate and safer routes to other ports. An electric rail line between Addis Ababa and Djibouti was recently opened, adding a key traffic artery for imports and exports but the road link to the Kenyan capital and to Mombasa nevertheless is thought to be hugely important as a strategic link.
On the Kenyan side are the two remaining stretches of the new highway, financed at a cost of over half a billion US Dollars by the European Union and the Kenyan government, now complete, linking the Northern Kenyan towns of Isiolo and Marsabit with the border town of Moyale.
On the Ethiopian side was the tarmac highway already completed for some time, just waiting to be linked to the Kenyan portion before a generation old dream to link the wider Eastern African region with a major highway has now become reality
A one stop border post will also be installed, like between the East African Community countries, to make transit of cargo and people easier and facilitate an increase in trade and travel.
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