Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the Kenyan government for the shooting of more than 700 cows in Samburu County, labeling the action as an act of disrespect toward the Maa community.
Gachagua, who spoke from his home in Texas, said he received multiple calls from community members in Samburu, Narok, and Kajiado expressing distress over the incident. He alleged that President William Ruto and Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen orchestrated the operation to marginalize the community.
The former deputy president said the livestock represented a primary source of livelihood for the Maa people. According to Gachagua, the animals were used to fund education and provide food, and their destruction serves to push the community into poverty.
He questioned why security forces were deployed to target cattle instead of addressing criminal activity elsewhere in the country. Gachagua said the government should hold specific individuals accountable for alleged offenses rather than punishing an entire community.
Beyond the shooting of cattle, Gachagua accused the administration of orchestrating land grabs in areas including Kibiko, Narok, and within the Masai Mara. He alleged that the government’s interest in these lands, particularly in Magadi, is driven by the discovery of mineral deposits such as lithium.
Gachagua stated that local leaders in Samburu and Narok have failed to defend their constituents against these actions. He said that while some leaders in Kajiado have spoken out, many others have remained silent or were complicit in the government’s agenda.
The former official pledged to meet with elders from Samburu, Narok, Kajiado, Laikipia, and Baringo South upon his return to Kenya next month. He said the meetings will focus on organizing the community to protect their remaining land and property from further encroachment.
Historical injustices affecting the Maa community have persisted since independence, Gachagua said. He argued that no previous president, including Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, or Uhuru Kenyatta, authorized the killing of livestock as a method of addressing grievances with the community.
Gachagua challenged the government’s dismissal of the incident, specifically pointing to reports that suggest a lower number of casualties. He said that regardless of the exact number of cattle killed, the action remains an affront to the dignity and livelihood of the pastoralist community.
