Gachagua accuses gov't of killing Maasai cattle in Samburu

Speaking while in Texas, in the United States, Gachagua said he had received calls from home through the night into the morning from members of the Maasai community in Samburu, Narok and Kajiado, who told him of their grievances and what he described as their suffering.

He said the callers told him they felt betrayed by leaders they had elected, whom they accused of failing to speak up for them, and said the community had identified him as someone who has consistently championed their issues.

Gachagua said he wanted to specifically condemn what he described as the killing of cattle in Samburu County. He claimed that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen deployed police officers to Samburu who then shot and killed cattle belonging to the Maasai community.

"Cows that have done no wrong, that have not opposed William Ruto, that do not vote, that cannot say 'one term' or 'Ruto must go' were shot. The Samburu and the wider Maasai community are asking why William Ruto is mistreating them in this way," he said.

He described the killing of the animals as a grave insult and a deliberate attempt to show the community that it does not matter to the government.

Gachagua went further to allege a broader pattern of land seizures affecting Maasai communities.

He claimed the government had taken land belonging to Maasai clans at Kibiko, and separately alleged that land at Amboseli in Kajiado had been taken from residents despite an earlier court order requiring it to be returned to them.

He also alleged that Maasai land in Narok had been taken to build a hotel located along a wildlife migration route.

He claimed the community had not received basic services such as roads and water despite these grievances, and accused the president of showing contempt for the community.

Gachagua also criticised Samburu's leadership, saying residents were unhappy that their governor and elected representatives had remained silent instead of speaking out on their behalf.

He said the same applied in Narok, while in Kajiado he said only the governor had attempted to raise the issue and had faced intimidation as a result. He named the area's senator as among those who had spoken up, while accusing "everyone else" of silence.

He said the affected communities had appealed to him directly to speak out and to tell President Ruto and his government that they had "had enough" over the shooting of the cattle.

Gachagua also linked the alleged land seizures to mineral deposits, claiming that some of the affected land in Samburu, Narok and Kajiado contains minerals, including lithium, and alleged that this was a motive behind the government's actions.

He said he intends to return home next month to meet with the affected communities to discuss the matter further.