Who is in the picture to explain to me what is the REAL issue(s) in Laikipia. There seems to be several narratives depending on the tribe or race, there are white settlers, Kikuyus,Pokots, Samburus, Maasais,Boranas among otherof the one giving their account. There are several groups of protagonists in the conflict. I will not go into the incidents that have been in the news of killing large herds of livestock by security forces, forced displacement of communities via intimidation,rape,executions,cattle rustling and the like, targeting and killing white settlers among other issues. Now to my understanding these are the main protagonists in this protacted battle over Laikipia land.
1) White settlers who own very large tracts of land like Kuki Galman who was shot but survived and the owner of ranches such as the Sossion ranch who was executed. These also double up as conservationist who want to preserve the wildlife corridors in the area.
2) Squatters who have been living in ranches for decades ,these ranches are still owned by absentee land lords assumed to be whites who bought the land and then left the country indefinately.
3) Herders from Isiolo ,Marsabit and Samburu counties basically neighbouring counties that perennially invade ranches in Laikipia ,they are suspected to be politically instigated and to have an expansionist agenda where they want to systematically encroach on the Laikipia land and they begun this in North Laikipia but have moved further and further into the greater Laikipia county.
4) The group ranches which were bought by mostly kikuyus but also some pokots and other Kenyan tribes, they are also forced off their ranches by the 'herders'
5) Several Politicians who have large herds of cattle in Laikipia who want a free grazing policy which has no boundaries meaning grazing can be done even in a crop farming area, these then politically incite herders that the land belongs to them communally-community land and that it is being grabbed by 'outsiders' this leads to a situation where a land owner can not even fence their piece of land let alone develop it. And if they try watakiona cha mtema kuni.
Who is in Laikipia to give us the low down on this matter?
1) White settlers who own very large tracts of land like Kuki Galman who was shot but survived and the owner of ranches such as the Sossion ranch who was executed. These also double up as conservationist who want to preserve the wildlife corridors in the area.
2) Squatters who have been living in ranches for decades ,these ranches are still owned by absentee land lords assumed to be whites who bought the land and then left the country indefinately.
3) Herders from Isiolo ,Marsabit and Samburu counties basically neighbouring counties that perennially invade ranches in Laikipia ,they are suspected to be politically instigated and to have an expansionist agenda where they want to systematically encroach on the Laikipia land and they begun this in North Laikipia but have moved further and further into the greater Laikipia county.
4) The group ranches which were bought by mostly kikuyus but also some pokots and other Kenyan tribes, they are also forced off their ranches by the 'herders'
5) Several Politicians who have large herds of cattle in Laikipia who want a free grazing policy which has no boundaries meaning grazing can be done even in a crop farming area, these then politically incite herders that the land belongs to them communally-community land and that it is being grabbed by 'outsiders' this leads to a situation where a land owner can not even fence their piece of land let alone develop it. And if they try watakiona cha mtema kuni.
Who is in Laikipia to give us the low down on this matter?
