CS Balala orders probe after Kenyan was harassed by gun-totting rangers in Laikipia

Najib Balala, the CS Wildlife and Tourism on Monday ordered investigations into an incident in which a Kenyan- Mordecai Ogada- was reportedly harassed by gun-totting rangers in Laikipia.

In a statement sent to the media, CS Balala said he expects a report on the incident by Wednesday, July 22.

“The Government of Kenya and my ministry will not condone, any undue harassment or intimidation of Kenyans who are going about their normal businesses and enjoying their God given heritage by anyone,” the CS said.

The incidence happened on Saturday at the Ol Jogi conservancy with Ogada claiming he was driving on a public road when he was accosted by an armed ranger.

” I was driving slowly down the public Nanyuki-Kinamba road with my kids watching animals and birds, when this Land Cruiser from Ol Jogi ranch KBK 184Q drove up with a fully armed security guy at the wheel and asked me who we are and what I was doing there,” he wrote on Facebook.

The ranger then told him that he was not allowed to take any photos around the Ol Jogi conservancy and demanded that he drives off.

Ogada claims that he stood his ground as he watched the ranger jerk his rifle and point it at him as he radioed for reinforcement.

“The fellow radioed for reinforcements, stepped back and took the gun off his shoulder pointing it directly at me and my kids, saying that poachers are “people like us” (whatever that means). His colleagues quickly arrived in tactical mode, guns at the ready,” Ogada added.

Mordecai Ogada, scholar and co-author of The Big Conservation Lie, told of a harrowing experience he faced during a game drive with his family in Nanyuki, Laikipia County on Saturday, July 18.

The acclaimed author, known for his hard-hitting takes on the Western-dominated conservation field in Kenya, vowed to file a police report at the Nanyuki Police Station on Monday, July 20, following the incident.

According to Ogada, he was driving along the public Nanyuki-Kinamba road, an animal and bird-rich area with his children when the events occurred.

He was unexpectedly approached by a Land Cruiser, he stated belonged to the Ol Jogi Ranch, with a fully armed security officer stepping out of the vehicle.

The armed man proceeded to demand who Ogada was, with the author citing his credentials. The ranch officer was, however, unwilling to listen and trained his gun at Ogada.

He claims that he refused to leave his car and dared them to shoot him or leave him alone.

The rangers then backed off and allowed him to proceed.