Illegal herdsmen believed to be from Baringo County on Wednesday evening burnt down The Mukutan Retreat, a luxury safari lodge owned by a white conservationist in Laikipia West.
The herders allegedly forced themselves to the ranch and burnt down the property, which is owned by Kuki Gallman, a renowned Italian-born Kenyan conservationist.
According to Gallman’s daughter Sveva Makena, they burnt down the lodge in what is believed to be retaliation for the ongoing operation in the county.
The attack comes in the wake of a joint operation by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the police in the area aimed at recovering illegal firearms and flushing out herders who have invaded private land, ranches and conservancies.
Insecurity in Laikipia has spiked in recent months as armed cattle herders searching for scarce grazing land continue to drive their cattle into private farms and ranches.
According to sources, the violent land invasions were being stoked by politicians seeking votes from particular ethnic groups in the national elections scheduled for August.
Recently, Tristan Voorspuy, a dual British-Kenyan national, was shot dead in his Sosian Ranch where herders had invaded and burnt down several cottages.
Here are photos of The Mukutan Retreat:
