Transport along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway was paralysed for hours after protesting farmers barricaded the road at Kikopey area in Gilgil sub-county decrying crop destruction by herders.
The angry farmers, who blocked the highway using huge stones, braved a heavy downpour, accusing pastoralist communities of letting their livestock destroy crops. The residents said they have in the last few months lost hundreds of acres of crops which has caused animosity between them and herders who have driven their livestock into the area in search for pasture.
Efforts to end the rivalry have allegedly been fruitless as local administrators gave the issue a deaf ear.
“No action has been taken against the culprits despite appealing for intervention from the local administration. Even the area sub-county commissioner has taken no action,” said Peter Mwangi, a resident.
Administration police officers from Gilgil who arrived at the scene hours later could not manage the rowdy crowd who were chanting slogans of ‘our crops our food’. Anti-riot police officers called to supplement the APs arrived at the scene later and helped disperse the protesters using teargas before unblocking the road.
The residents called upon both the county and national government to move with speed and address their concerns.
“We are asking the government to intervene urgently as the issue is causing bad blood between communities and could get out of hand,” said Naomi Wanjiru, another resident.
The residents expressed fear that they could face hunger if the herders are not restrained from grazing their cattle on their farms. Area MP Nderitu Mathenge, who also arrived at the scene accompanied by MCA Jane Ngugi, urged the residents to be calm as they promised to solve the dispute.
“I urge you to remain calm as we seek for amicable ways of solving the issue,” said Mathenge.
Pastoralists have, however, insisted that dry conditions in their traditional grazing fields in Narok and Naivasha have forced them to move to neighbouring areas in search of pasture.