Raila Denies Reports He'll Dismantle White-Owned Laikipia Ranches

National Super Alliance (NASA) Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has dismissed media reports which claimed that he would be dismantling white-owned Ranches in Laikipia county if elected the president.

The former Prime Minister has clarified the comments he made on London media The Times, on how will he handle bad blood between nomadic herders and ranchers in Laikipia, saying that he will create harmony between them to enable lasting solution on the crisis that has caused insecurity in the County.

“These ranches are too big and the people don’t even live there, they live in Europe and only come once in a while,” The Times quoted him as saying. “There’s a need for a rationalization to ensure that there’s more productive use of that land.”

Raila’s Spokesman Dennis Onyango termed the reports as “misplaced”, while dismissing reports that Raila was among politicians who incited local communities against the ranchers.

“No one has tabled any evidence of Odinga inciting Laikipia residents to violence. What Mr Odinga has called for is for the government to broker an understanding between the ranchers and locals and help bring peace between the two groups,” he said.

"That is what he is promising to do as president. Odinga is on record condemning the attack on Kuki (Gallmann) and calling on the government to restore law and order,” Onyango added.