This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/06/hundreds-kenyan-herders-arrested-deadly-ranch-invasions
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hundreds of Kenyan herders arrested over ranch invasions | Hundreds of Kenyan herders arrested over ranch invasions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three hundred and seventy nine herders have been arrested for invading ranches that led to the killing of a British farmer over the weekend, Kenya’s domestic security minister said. | Three hundred and seventy nine herders have been arrested for invading ranches that led to the killing of a British farmer over the weekend, Kenya’s domestic security minister said. |
| Joseph Nkaissery said on Monday a severe drought in the east African country was causing tension because of the scarcity of water and pasture, leading some communities to move into other properties in search of resources. | Joseph Nkaissery said on Monday a severe drought in the east African country was causing tension because of the scarcity of water and pasture, leading some communities to move into other properties in search of resources. |
| The arrests come after rancher Tristan Voorspuy was shot dead while inspecting some of his lodges, which had been burned by the attackers. His body was found on Sunday 118 miles north of Nairobi. | The arrests come after rancher Tristan Voorspuy was shot dead while inspecting some of his lodges, which had been burned by the attackers. His body was found on Sunday 118 miles north of Nairobi. |
| Thousands of herders – some armed with spears, others with AK47s – have invaded private ranches and wildlife parks with their livestock, slaughtering animals and destroying property in Laikipia, one of Kenya’s most important wildlife areas, as they search for pasture in the drought-stricken country. | Thousands of herders – some armed with spears, others with AK47s – have invaded private ranches and wildlife parks with their livestock, slaughtering animals and destroying property in Laikipia, one of Kenya’s most important wildlife areas, as they search for pasture in the drought-stricken country. |
| Voorspuy, a British citizen who was born in South Africa, had gone to inspect damage caused by the raiders on his Sosian ranch when he was killed. Local media reported that two cottages on his property had been torched. | |
| “It is true the Sosian ranch director was shot dead while going to inspect damage at his ranch,” Jacob Endung, a local government official, said on Sunday. | “It is true the Sosian ranch director was shot dead while going to inspect damage at his ranch,” Jacob Endung, a local government official, said on Sunday. |
| “He was riding on his horse when he was felled by bullets. Even the horse was also shot at and is lying there.” | “He was riding on his horse when he was felled by bullets. Even the horse was also shot at and is lying there.” |
| He said police had been unable to access the area due to the high number of the raiders but had managed to fly over it and saw the body. “These people are dangerous, they don’t spare anyone,” he said. | He said police had been unable to access the area due to the high number of the raiders but had managed to fly over it and saw the body. “These people are dangerous, they don’t spare anyone,” he said. |
| Voorspuy spent three years in the British army before moving to Kenya and founding a company specialising in horseback safaris, according to his website. He and several other shareholders also restored the once-derelict Sosian ranch. | |
| Martin Evans, chair of the Laikipia Farmers Association, said Voorspuy had been a shareholder in Sosian ranch for more than 15 years and “went to look at the house of a fellow director and friend that had been burnt by invading and well-armed ‘pastoralists’ on Friday”. | Martin Evans, chair of the Laikipia Farmers Association, said Voorspuy had been a shareholder in Sosian ranch for more than 15 years and “went to look at the house of a fellow director and friend that had been burnt by invading and well-armed ‘pastoralists’ on Friday”. |
| When he failed to return by Sunday afternoon, an aerial search spotted Voorspuy’s injured horse, Evans said. A ground team later found the rancher’s body near the ruins of the house. | When he failed to return by Sunday afternoon, an aerial search spotted Voorspuy’s injured horse, Evans said. A ground team later found the rancher’s body near the ruins of the house. |
| Evans said Voorspuy was passionate about Laikipia, its land and its wildlife. He said as a safari operator, Voorspuy sought to show that cattle ranching and wildlife and people could co-exist if the land was well looked after. | Evans said Voorspuy was passionate about Laikipia, its land and its wildlife. He said as a safari operator, Voorspuy sought to show that cattle ranching and wildlife and people could co-exist if the land was well looked after. |
| “We are very sad and despondent tonight. We have lost a good man and a great friend,” Evans said. | “We are very sad and despondent tonight. We have lost a good man and a great friend,” Evans said. |
| In January herders swept into the nearby 44,000-acre (17,600-hectare) Suyian ranch, burning thatched huts for tourists. | In January herders swept into the nearby 44,000-acre (17,600-hectare) Suyian ranch, burning thatched huts for tourists. |
| Elephants, lion, buffalo and zebra have been slaughtered by the herders, who come with tens of thousands of livestock, and black and white landowners alike speak of invasions, fear and siege. | |
| Some officials have blamed the land invasions on a severe drought that has made poor herders desperate, and the UN humanitarian chief has appealed for assistance for herders affected by what Kenya’s government has declared a natural disaster. | Some officials have blamed the land invasions on a severe drought that has made poor herders desperate, and the UN humanitarian chief has appealed for assistance for herders affected by what Kenya’s government has declared a natural disaster. |
| Ranchers, however, say the land invasions are politically motivated and part of plans to seize their land. While some point to the drought gripping the country, and a spike in human and livestock populations, others say the forthcoming election in August and long-running land gripes have sparked tensions. | Ranchers, however, say the land invasions are politically motivated and part of plans to seize their land. While some point to the drought gripping the country, and a spike in human and livestock populations, others say the forthcoming election in August and long-running land gripes have sparked tensions. |
| The government has done little to stop the invasions and, with elections around the corner, few expect vote-costing action against the illegal grazers. | The government has done little to stop the invasions and, with elections around the corner, few expect vote-costing action against the illegal grazers. |
| Meanwhile, the ethnic logic of Kenyan politics means some candidates stand to benefit from a favourable shift in population dynamics before the vote. | Meanwhile, the ethnic logic of Kenyan politics means some candidates stand to benefit from a favourable shift in population dynamics before the vote. |
| Associated Press and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report | Associated Press and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report |