Armed herders invade Kenya's most important wildlife conservancy
by Adam Cruise, Bibi van der Zee from Environment | The Guardian on (#2B5W6)
Nomadic herders have killed wildlife and torched buildings but questions remain over the causes of the violence
Thousands of heavily-armed herders are invading conservancies, private properties and smallholdings in Laikipia, one of Kenya's most important wildlife areas, as they search for pasture for their cattle.
Over the past couple of weeks, about 10,000 nomadic herders, armed with automatic rifles and driving 135,000 cattle, have left a trail of destruction and chaos in the county, just three hours drive from Nairobi. The herders have indiscriminately killed wildlife - from elephants, giraffes, zebras and lions to family dogs. Residents have been injured, some seriously. At least one person has been killed, according to reports.