Former president Mwai Kibaki’s kin shot, admitted to hospital

A doctor at Nyahururu County referral hospital examines Mr Wachira Mwai, a nephew to former president Mwai Kibaki. He was shot by unknown people while heading home in Rumuruti, Laikipia West. PHOTO: JAMES MUNYEKI

KENYA: A nephew to former President Mwai Kibaki is nursing serious gunshot wounds he sustained after he was attacked by unknown assailants within Rumuruti area of Laikipia County on Friday.

George Wachira Mwai is recuperating at the Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital with three gunshot wounds.

He was shot twice on his right arm and another injury on his left leg during the 6:30pm incident.
Mwai, the proprietor of the Lobara Ranch in the area was returning home when his vehicle was shot at several times along the Muruku-Rumuruti road.

Speaking from his hospital bed, he said after approaching a thick area along the road, he heard loud bangs several times but could not tell where the shooting was taking place until he saw blood oozing from his arm.

Fortunately, police officers who were also using the same road found him on the roadside and managed to rescue him and took him to Rumuruti Health centre where he received first aid before he was referred to Nyahururu County Hospital for further treatment.

"I cannot really tell what happened since I only heard loud bangs only to later realise that i had been shot at after seeing blood oozing from my hand," he said.

The victim observed that this could have been a retaliatory attack from suspected illegal grazers from one of the pastoral communities living in the area following numerous arrest to have them driven off from the area.

He said the herders graze on other people's land with impunity and this has seen several of them arrested and charged in court with illegal grazing and malicious damage to crops and property.
This comes in the wake of reports that the herdsmen were breaking into local ranches while in search of pasture for their large stock of livestock.

Mwai has since called on the government to step-up its war against illegal grazers who have immigrated into the area.

Two relatives and three workers from the farms have in past been attacked in a similar manner and hence the family now fears that the herdsmen could be avenging for their arrests.

Ngure Macharia, a resident in the area decried the rampant attacks by the criminals whom he said were in possession of unlicensed weapons and hence rendering residents to live in fear.

He said such attacks commonly occurred during electioneering period and appealed to the government to investigate the connection.

His sentiments were echoed by Laikipia's Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) Vice chairperson Irene Wachuka and Pastor Lucy Njeri Ngugi who condemned the attacked and challenge the government to move with speed and ensure that the suspects are brought to book.

They said time has come for the national government to act swiftly and ensure the illegal weapons in the wrong hands is surrendered to the government.