The Government has announced plans to compensate herders about 1,500 cattle and 50,000 goats and sheep that were killed in March during a security operation in Laikipia.
This follows an order by President Uhuru Kenyatta, reports Daily Nation.
On Saturday, Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri while addressing crowds of people at Baragoi and Suguta Marmar said security agents erred in shooting dead animals belonging to herders during an operation to flush out herders who had invaded private ranches in Laikipia West.
He said that President Uhuru has ordered those affected to be compensated before the country heads for elections on August 8.
Kiunjuri will form a committee which he will co-chair with Agriculture CS Willy Bett.
The committee’s herculean task will lay a plan to compensate among other things.
Permanent Secretary Richard Lesiyampe will be the technical chair of the committee.
Leaders from Laikipia and Samburu will also be in the committee which has 10 days to report its progress as far as compensation is concerned.
“The committee will carry out a forensic audit of what really happened and is expected to table its findings within a period of 10 days,” Lesiyampe said.
Governors Joshua Irungu (Laikipia) and Moses Kasaine (Samburu) will be in the committee.
Other leaders include: Samburu West MP Lati Lelelit, nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda and nominated MP Sarah Korere.
According to a proposal by Samburu Governor, the government should pay sh40, 000 each while a goat and sheep Sh5, 000 each.
Those whose property was destroyed or wounded will also be compensated as well.
But the Devolution CS gave a disclaimer stating that: “We agree we did a mistake but people should know security officers who were deployed there come from all tribes of this country so the blame should not be squarely dropped on the President.”