Herdsmen Torch Laikipia Conservancy

The fire, that is reported to have started on Tuesday afternoon, is belived to have been started by arsonists.

According to the Conservancy founder Kuki Gallmann, the fire was caused by malicious herdsmen and is yet to be contained.

Ms Gallmann has said that the ranch is regularly invaded by pastoralists from Baringo and Laikipia in search for pasture and water.

She has also said that the fire started at one corner bordering Baringo County where illegal grazers had invaded.

"This is one of the worst fires that have been witnessed in this ranch since it was started over 40 years ago," she said.

 

REVENGE MISSION

A team of volunteers from the neigbouring community have joined in the efforts to contain the fire.

Hundreds of animals have since moved from the area in search of safer habitat in other parts of the 100,000 acre ranch.

“There were gazelles and antelopes which graze here. They have since sought habitat in other parts. This is a very sad situation," noted emotional Gallmann.

Gallmann says that this was an attempt by illegal grazers to revenge since they had been ordered out of the ranch a week ago.

“It is only last week that they had been ordered out and we suspect that they are now revenging. This is a conservancy for wild animals and they are destroying forest land as well as grassland.”

She has called on the Government to ensure that the illegal grazers were moved out of the land.

 

By Musalia Wycliffe

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Citizen TV Fire citizen news laikipia by Musalia Wycliffe fire destroys grass Laikipia Nature and Wildlife Conservancy

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