Raila Castigates Laikipia Livestock Shooting

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has castigated the shooting of more than 300 livestock by police in Laikipia County on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in Nairobi on Saturday, the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader demanded the government to compensate pastoralists who lost their livestock during a shooting engagement between herders and police over illegal invasion of private ranches in Ratia, Laikipia county.

He further called for the creation of a "clear policy for coexistence between ranchers and pastoralists" by the state in order to protect the interests of the pastoralist community. "Pastoralists should have controlled access to ranches during moments of drought. Criminalization of pastoralists should stop since they contribute to the nation’s economy."

Leaders from the Maasai community led by Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal and his Kajiado counterpart Joseph ole Lenku have also condemned the shooting of the animals and demanded action against police officers involved in the incident.

"We as the leaders from the Maa community, we demand that the government through the relevant security agencies starts investigations into the shooting of cows in Laikipia in order to bring the culprits to book," Governor Lenolkulal said in a press briefing in Nairobi on Saturday.