Hundreds of livestock belonging to pastoralists who had allegedly invaded private ranches in Ratia were killed on Wednesday, November 1. The cows were shot during a police operation in Laikipia County.
The Police spokesman George Kinoti said that the herders used the cows as shields during the gunfight.
Laikipia County Commander Simon Kipkeu confirmed that an unknown number of cattle was killed at Ratia area when the pastoral communities attacked the police.
Hundreds of cows were left dead in the fields
"Nothing could be further from the truth. The dead livestock were caught in the crossfire simply because the armed herders chose to use the cows as shields while firing at the police,” he said, adding that the operation will continue.
A section of Maasai leaders led by Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal and Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, condemned the shooting and asked the government to prosecute the officers who were involved.
National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga on November 4 talked about the matter saying that the crime threatens the livelihood of the pastoralists. He asked the Government to compensate the pastoralists whose livestock were killed during the operation.
Kenyans on Twitter were not left behind and they had #Laikipia trending. Most of them condemned the act saying that police have taken it far;
Here are the top tweets;
They rigged mathew lempurkel out so that they can mistreat our people in laikipia. #Resist— ledama ole kina (@ledamalekina) November 4, 2017
Keriako Tobiko & Ole Kaparo are both Maasai. Neither has spoken on the Laikipia massacre. Jubilee gatekeeping comes with a silence retainer.
— Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) November 4, 2017
There is no greater act of treason than the Laikipia Massacre incident orchestrated by the this tryrant Jubilee regime. Jubilee must fall.— HON. PAPA ???????? (@ItsPapah) November 4, 2017
I have never seen and nor generations to come countenance the killing of livestock in Laikipia. Who is behind this monstrosity? Why, I ask?
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— Prof J. Ole Kiyiapi (@JamesOleKiyiapi) November 5, 2017
Now police will say The Laikipia cows were demonstrating.
— Ken Mijungu (@KenMijungu) November 4, 2017
Thread.. Maasai plea
My Cows in Laikipia Rest In peace. I feel the pain but I don't have an army to defend you. I'm a Minority,..— Ole sakau (@MichaelSakau) November 3, 2017
Only Gestapo Jubilee government would commit a terrifying crime like Laikipia incidence of police killing hundreds of cows— Ndung'u Wainaina (@NdunguWainaina) November 4, 2017
In Laikipia bullets rain on Maa cattle, local leaders are mum and top Jubilee honchos have acquired huge tracts of land.— TheNortherner (@alaminkimathi) November 4, 2017
Whichever way you look at it, however one wants to gloss over the fact, Laikipia killings of cattle is barbaric and must be condemned. pic.twitter.com/mJxuizI51w— Ahmed Mohamed (@Asmali77) November 4, 2017
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