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Herders Defy Order to Keep Off Ranches

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
January 22, 2005
Posted to the web January 21, 2005

By Standard Reporter
Nairobi
Maasai herdsmen have defied a Government directive to keep off private ranches
in Kangundo.
Yesterday, ranch owners at the sprawling Koma Rock plains in Kangundo said they
would evict the herdsmen by force.
Two days ago area District Commissioner Osman Warfa and Kangundo MP Moffat
Maitha ordered the herdsmen to leave the ranches to avert imminent clashes.
The herdsmen said they were fleeing biting drought in Kajiado District, which
had led to lack of pasture for their animals.
Maitha said the herdsmen must leave his constituency terming them as intruders.
Maitha cautioned the Provincial Administration against accepting bribes from
the herders to allow them graze their animals on private land.
The herdsmen allegedly paid Sh20,000 to the Koma Rock chief to graze their
animals.
The ranchers accused the chief and a district officer from Kajiado of
encouraging the herdsmen to invade their ranches.
Warfa said the ranches were private property and should be respected, adding
that those caught breaking the law would be prosecuted.

   

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