Herders evicted from Tsavo as State seeks to stem poaching

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

The Government has driven more than 3,000 illegal herders and 110,000 head of livestock out of the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) to curb poaching and other wildlife related crimes in Taita-Taveta County.

But an MP from North Eastern Province Mohamed Shidiye has criticised the forceful removal, saying  the herders “were in the ranches legally” and a court had issued an order stopping the eviction.

TCA Senior Assistant Director Julius Kimani said yesterday phase one of the security operation is targeted at illegal herders in the area. Mr Kimani said the herders had agreed to move out of their own volition.

“We conducted the phase one security operation in a humane way and no herder was harassment as claimed,” he said. Kimani said phase two would target herders who will defy the order to leave the area.