Herders in Laikipia County shot and injured conservationist Kuki Gallmann on Sunday at her Gallmann Africa Conservancy.
Reports from her daughter, Sveva Makena indicate the renowned conservationist-cum-author was shot in the stomach by the herders.
Gallmann, 73, together with her driver were shot at by a group of herders who had laid an ambush at Rangi Nyekundu area, within her ranch when she was making a routine patrol of the ranch.
Gallmann was rushed to a Nanyuki hospital where she got first aid before she was airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment. Her driver, however, escaped unhurt.
Area police boss Ezekiel Chepkwony confirmed the incident saying that his officers quickly swung into action and fired back at the herders.
Some of them escaped with bullet injuries from the retaliation of police officers.
“Security officers managed to overpower the herders who escaped some of them with gunshot wounds after shooting her,” said Chepkwony as quoted by Daily Nation.
He vowed to use necessary force to wipe out bandits in the area who have turned to killers.
“The officers are currently following on the bandits and we shall bring them to book.”
According to a security guard at the ranch, the bandits razed down several houses in the ranch and also fired at some of the workers at the ranch.
“The herders had burned down several buildings on the conservancy and have also been firing bullets at us while coming closer and closer to our houses,” said the guard.
Gallmann Africa Conservancy is the largest conservancy in Laikipia-100,000 acres.
It is believed the bandits attacked Gallmann after reports that a herd of 1000 cattle was shot by security officers in the conservancy in a security operation they are undertaking in the area.
But the conservancy’s spokesperson, Sveva Gallmann- daughter to Gallmann has dispelled the claims and termed them as untrue.
The attack on the Italian conservationist comes hard on the heels of security apparatus in the area.
The region has since January been grappling with insecurity issues most of which have been targeting foreigners who own ranches.
Tristan Voorspuy, owner of Sosian ranch was shot dead by bandits on March 5 prompting the Kenyan government to call for a joint KDF/GSU operation in the area.