Wealthy Laikipia rancher, Tristan Voorspuy, who was killed on Sunday had written an emotional letter explaining to Kenyans the nature of the conflict that would later claim his life.
Voorspuy had written an Op-Ed (a letter to the editor) which has now been published by The Star in its Wednesday edition.
The British citizen and businessman, who was born in South Africa and later served in the British army, started by explaining that the vast lands that are being attacked in Laikipia and Samburu had been deserted in the early 20th century when the British colonialists arrived and built the railway.
He sought to disprove the narrative that the native communities in the two counties were justified to attack the ranches that had denied them their ancestral land.
Rather, Voorspuy explained that the ranches had been developed by some investors who had come long after independence and who have served to improve the economy through tax and employment.
”In 1999, I put a consortium together to purchase the Sosian ranch from a bank who exercised their charge on the property from Kikuyu owners. There was no grass or game on the farm. The Samburu who had squatted there had moved off because nothing was left.
We now have 1,800 head of cattle…We employ 150 people at the lodge and pay Sh20,000,000 in tax every year. It is a culmination of 18 years of love and investment but we are bracing ourselves for an armed walk-on any day now,” the rancher explained.
Unfortunately, Voorspuy did not live to see the letter published or even his request for peace adhered to.
He was killed on March 5 while inspecting damage on his 24,000-acre farm. His body was not collected for nearly 24 hours as armed bandits remained at his farm even after killing him.
Here is the full letter, courtesy of The Star.
