Kenya conservationist shot and wounded by herders seeking land

The Italian-born author and conservationist Kuki Gallmann has been shot at her Kenyan ranch and airlifted for treatment after herders invaded the land in search of pasture to save their animals from drought. Mrs Gallmann, known for her bestselling book I Dreamed of Africa, which became a film by the same name starring Kim Basinger, was patrolling the ranch when she was shot in the stomach, local police chief Ezekiel Chepkowny said.

Her driver also survived the attack and drove her to the airport in Laikipia, fromwhere she was airlifted to the capital Nairobi for further treatment, Mr Chepkowny said.

Richard Constant, deputy chairman of the Laikipia Farmers Association, said suspicion falls on herders from the Pokot community who have invaded Mrs Gallmann’s ranch several times

Lodges belonging to Mrs Gallmann were burned by the herders last month.

Kenya is facing a drought that has affected half the country and has been declared a national disaster.

Herders and large-scale farmers in parts of the Rift Valley of Kenya have been desperately waiting for seasonal rains that were due to start last month to ease the drought and conflicts over grazing land in which more than 30 people have died.

Kenya’s military and police have been working to disarm and drive the hundreds of herders and their animals out of ranches that they have invaded, but their actions appear to have escalated the violence.

The Laikipia Farmers Association said when the military and police drive herders from one ranch, they move into another.

The association’s deputy chairman accused politicians campaigning for the August elections of inciting the herders to invade the ranches, saying the owners’ leases have come to an end and that herders can take over the land and distribute it among themselves.

The land invasions started late last year. British national and ranch owner Tristan Voorspuy was killed last month when he went to inspect damage done by the herders on one of his lodges.

Opposition leader and former prime minister Raila Odinga said ranch owners deserve protection under the law like all Kenyans.

“Unfortunately, we have watched in bewilderment as hooligans take advantage of the drought to subject these ranchers to unwarranted attacks,” Mr Odinga said.

“Even more depressing is the apparent helplessness of the government that is clearly unable or unwilling to bring these attacks to a stop.”