Illegal herders shoot worker in ranch invasion

Residents of Ngare Nyiro village protest by blocking the entrance to Segera ranch, which is famed with international soccer star Samuel Eto'o and Olympian Usain Bolt after a ranch worker was shot dead, allegedly by illegal herders who have invaded the ranch with hundreds of cattle. Tension is high in the area following the killing and subsequent protests, with police accusing the residents of blocking the gate to prevent investigations into the killing. Photo by JOB WERU/Standard.

An employee of a ranch in Laikipia East was shot dead by illegal herders who had invaded it.

Edung Lepong'oi, 50, was shot dead at Segera Ranch that has been in the spotlight over confrontations between herders and management.

And following the Wednesday night attack, residents of Ngare Nyiro village blocked the entry to the ranch ostensibly to block the police from investigating the fatal shooting.

Police claimed the herders raided the ranch at night with intentions of fleeing with hundreds of livestock, which had been detained due to illegal grazing.

Laikipia East OCPD Zacheus Ng'eno said the raiders sprayed bullets on two houses made of iron sheets. Lepong'oi and six other guards were asleep in the houses.

"He was fatally injured and he died while undergoing treatment at the ranch's dispensary," said Mr Ng'eno.

It is suspected the illegal herders intended to scare off guards so as to free their livestock, since immediately after the shooting, they fled with 400 head of cattle.

Another ranch worker and a teenager were shot dead in different circumstances in June, this year.

Since mid-this year, armed herders have been invading the ranch in search of pastures for their livestock. This is despite a directive issued by Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet who ordered County Commander Angelus Karuru to take action against herders invading private ranches.

And in July this year, illegal grazers allegedly shot and wounded Wachira Mwai, a nephew of former President Mwai Kibaki. The invasions by herders have heightened insecurity in the area.