Arsonists torch ex-Laikipia Senator GG Kariuki's farms
Ms Gladys Kariuki at one of the family's farm that was set ablaze by unknown people. PHOTO | STEVE NJUGUNA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The suspects also stormed the farm on Saturday at around 7pm and torched a warehouse where over 50,000 bales of hay was kept.
- On Sunday evening the same people invaded another family’s farm and burnt down another 400 acres of hay.
Police in Laikipia West are investigating incidents where property worth millions of shillings was burnt by unknown people at former Laikipia Senator Godfrey Gitahi Kariuki’s farm in Rumuruti.
According to the family spokesperson Mr Patrick Mathenge, unknown people burnt over 800 acres of hay farm on Friday.
The suspects also stormed the farm on Saturday at around 7pm and torched a warehouse where over 50,000 bales of hay was kept.
On Sunday evening another family’s farm was invaded where 400 acres of hay was torched.
“We believe that this [arson] is being carried out by people with ill motives, we are urging the police to carry out thorough investigations and arrest the culprits,” said Mr Mathenge Kariuki, the former senator’s son who is also the farm manager.
BURNING FARMS
“We are now living in fear following the attacks, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow after they are done with burning the farms,” Ms Gladys Kariuki, the senator’s widow, told Nation.
Laikipia County Commissioner Mr Onesmus Musyoki, who confirmed the incident but said that no arrests had been made, has assured the family of enough security.
“Anyone who will be found to be behind the crime will face the full force of the law. We have launched investigations into the incident and I am assuring the (Kariuki) family that those behind the crime will be arrested,” said Mr Musyoki.
