The Kenyan government has assured international tourists visiting Laikipia that the conservancies and ranches in the county are safe.
This follows a series of incidents, including the murder of Tristan Voorspuy, co-owner of Offbeat Safaris and Sosian Ranch in Laikipia, who was killed in an ambush over the weekend.
Kenya Police Spokesman, Charles Owino, said police had heightened security in the county to protect visitors, investors and tourist facilities, including camps and lodges.
“To ensure the safety of wildlife enthusiasts heading to Laikipia for safari, we do provide armed escort to tour vans transporting visitors to the ranches and conservancies,” said Owino.
He said tourist police were also deployed to Laikipia to safeguard tourists and the camps and lodges where visitors stayed.
According to the Kenya Tourism Board and Kenya Tourism Federation, the present unrest and insecurity is restricted to a few localities and a small number of ranches and the well-known wildlife conservancies and tourism facilities in the rest of Laikipia are not affected and remain calm and peaceful.
Sosian Game Ranch has suspended its tourism activities until the end of April as a result of the unrest in Laikipia. Offbeat Safaris’ head office will re-organise all affected bookings, fully refunding the accommodation. All riding safaris will continue as planned and Offbeat Safaris will organise a team of riding safari guides to step in.
Other operators in the region are continuing with business as usual and say they remain unaffected.
Natural World Kenya Safaris, Gamewatchers Safaris, and Kenya Adventure Tours have all reported that unrest had quietened down within the last week. Duncan Chege, of Natural World Kenya Safaris, said that only a small portion of Laikipia was affected but calm has since been restored.
“The government has taken charge and sent some security to the area so there is no need to worry,” said Robin Kamau of Kenya Adventure Tours. Kamau advises that any tourists intending to visit Laikipia should consult their operator first for an update on the situation.
Martin Cook, MD of Sense of Africa East Africa, said that while the situation remained tense it was not targeting tourists. “The main affected areas are away from the most regular tourist itineraries and, as such, does not affect tourism in general.”
Owino explained that the invasion of ranches and conservancies was perpetrated by herders who were seeking pasture and water for their livestock following prolonged drought. “As a result of severe drought, some herders illegally forced their animals into private ranches and conservancies for grazing, thereby causing conflict with the private landowners,” he said.
“It is against the law for the herders to invade private land. Police have beefed up security to protect investors, visitors and property.”
A month ago, herders forced entry into Suiyan conservancy with their livestock in search of pasture, where they burned down a lodge and cottages.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice for Kenya was also updated on January 31, to reflect the situation in Laikipia. The update reads: “Following an extended period of drought, there’s been an increase in armed incursions on to private farms and wildlife conservation areas in the county of Laikipia in central Kenya, which some foreign visitors have been caught up in.”
By Mathias Ringa and Kim Emmanuel
