Bandits have outwitted security forces for the second time and shot dead an old man in the troubled Ol Moran area of Laikipia county.

Charles Maina, 65, was killed on Wednesday afternoon as he and a colleague were grazing cattle at Corner Mawe area that is next to Laikipia Nature Conservancy (LNC).

The shooting came as police urged illegal herders still hiding in the conservancy to take advantage of government amnesty and move out voluntarily.

Police spokesman Bruno Shioso revealed that some illegal herders who had been hiding in the vast conservancy had taken advantage of the amnesty and surrendered 1,200 heads of livestock.

“The government has in return offered to provide security and escort the herders and their livestock out of the ranch,” he said in a statement.

Digging buffer-zone

 Reports indicate that already a group of leaders from Isiolo county are  said to be in Laikipia to make contact with security officers in the conservancy to plead for safe passage of herders and their animals from the conservancy.

Maina and a friend, Samuel Ruchuiri had thought they had the backing of security officers digging a buffer-zone trench to keep wild animals from the conservancy from reaching settlement areas.

Ruchuiri, who escaped the attack, said they were both herding their animals at the Corner Mawe area when they saw armed bandits approaching them at around 3pm.

“We took cover as they (bandits) rounded up our animals. As they drove the 30 animals away, the saw where my friend was hiding. They went there and shot him five times, killing him instantly,” he  said.

He added that KDF officers who were excavating the trench had earlier assured them that they were safe while grazing their animals in the area.

Ol Moran Ward MCA George Karuiru said the two attacks at Wanguaci area has made residents feel like the government was not telling the truth about the security situation in Ol Moran.

On Sunday night, Ibrahim Kiptoo was shot and injured as he guarded a maize plantation in the same area.

The Ward Rep noted that it was unfortunate that there are still thousands of animals grazing at the conservancy despite the government giving an ultimatum to the herders holed up in the 100,000 acre ranch to leave.

The death brings to 13 the number of people who have been killed in Ol Moran ward in the last one month.

Operation successful 

The body of the deceased was taken to a mortuary in Sipili town.

Shioso, in the statement released on Tuesday, said most of the illegal herders had been pushed out of the conservancy owned by Italian born conservationist and writer, Kuki Gallman adding that operation was successful in the first phase of the security operation.

“Notwithstanding the return to normalcy, security operations within the area continue concentrating on flushing out remnants of illegal herders hiding in the expansive LNC.

 “Multi agency security teams in collaboration with other sectors are engaged in a peace building initiative to rebuild trust and confidence by inspiring peaceful coexistence amongst local communities in the region.

This is geared towards finding a lasting sustainable solution to the problem,” the police spokesman said.

 He said peace and normalcy had returned to settlement areas located next to the conservancy and “schools, which had closed down due to insecurity, reopened and residents resumed their normal lives.”