The family of Lucy Jennings Wambui, a Laikipia rancher who was ambushed on Sunday January 21, by unknown assailants near Rumuruti have narrated what transpired.
The rancher was en-route to church when unknown assailants armed with guns attacked and shot her.
According to reports by the family and witnesses, the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the back of her head and arm.
Wambui’s family claimed that the incident was riddled with malice, and also attributed it to a tussle with unnamed individuals over the expansive Jennings Farm.
Speaking to the media, the family said that they were distraught over what had befallen their kin.
Wambui was rushed to Rumuruti Sub County Hospital before being referred to Pope Benedict XVI Hospital in Nyahururu, where she’s currently undergoing treatment.
The victim’s brother Joseph Njihia said she was constantly being harassed by people after her late father’s land to the point where she feared going out.
“There is a time she could not even go to church, and when she had to go, she always boarded a motorbike just to be safe,” the brother narrated.
The family members further said individuals frustrating the family are well known and called on the government to intervene.
“These people keep frustrating us because they want to grab the land. The are well known individuals,” the brother added.
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History of the Jennings Ranch/Land
According to an account by the family members, the land bearing the ranch rightfully belongs to Wambui adding that she had the necessary documents to prove it.
Miriam Kokoi, the victim’s aunt said that the businesswoman inherited the land from her parents.
She explained that the land belonged to Jennings a foreigner who married Wambui’s mother. After their death the parcel of land was left to the 50-year-old woman, Lucy Jennings Wambui.
“I was even raised at the ranch. When they died, they left the property to the children including Wambui. All has been well until land grabbers came to the land,” she lamented.
The family said that a specific tribe had encroached on the vast farm and refused to vacate causing the dispute.
The victim’s ranch is situated several kilometers away from Rumuruti town, an area that has faced encroachment by illegal grazers who have additionally constructed makeshift dwellings.
Attempts to remove these individuals from her property have consistently led to legal proceedings, as they assert ownership of a portion of the land, further complicating the situation.
Rumuruti Business Community Chairman’s Sentiments on the Matter
On the other hand, Rumuruti Business Community Chairman Fredrick Mwangi also echoed Kokoi’s sentiments, revealing that the businesswoman had previously expressed fears for her life.
The assailants, according to the chairman, meticulously followed the victim’s daily routine, anticipating her presence at the church that Sunday morning.
While highlighting the ongoing plight, Mwangi explained, “Some individuals have encroached upon her land and persistently refused to vacate. Despite government involvement, she has yet to receive the justice she rightfully deserves.”
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“How can we continue to reside in the area when we face daily attacks? Last year, we couldn’t even cultivate our fields. This is not a random incident; it was carefully orchestrated. They were aware of her regular attendance at church at 8 am,” the chairman further lamented.
Law enforcement had not made any arrests in connection with the incident by press time.
Nevertheless, Laikipia County has been a hotspot for recurring clashes, with ranchers becoming frequent targets of land grabbers.
The escalating insecurity, coupled with additional bandit attacks, prompted the government to deploy the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) to the region to help in curbing crime.
