Raila (2ND R) with leaders from Western Kenya when he recently visited Kakamega. facebook/ Raila OdingaNASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has promised to disassemble white-owned ranches in Laikipia County if elected president in August.
In an interview with The Times, the opposition chief said ranches in the arid county have been experiencing raids, leading to violent conflict between herders and owners.
“These ranches are too big and the people don’t even live there; they live in Europe and only come once in a while,” he said.
“There is need for rationalisation to ensure there’s more productive use of that land.”
He blamed the violent land attacks on the ranchers and the Jubilee administration’s failure to manage them prudently.
Laikipia County is inhabited by pastoralist communities who during drought periods invade the ranches in search of pasture for their livestock.
Recently, a dozen people and a British rancher, Tristan Voorspuy were killed when herders drove cattle to private farms to look for pasture.
There are claims the herders have not left despite the heavy rains being experienced in the area.
A week ago, Sosion Ranch was indefinitely closed following continued attacks by bandits leading to loss of lives and destruction of property valued at millions of shillings.
Voorspuy’s death compelled the British government to urge Kenya contain the escalating violence blamed on the herders.
The rancher’s body lay in the farm for more than 24 hours after being shot dead.
Police said the place was too dangerous to visit immediately after the killing.
More than five out of the 30 lodges in Laikipia County have been closed since December 2016 because of violent attacks.