{"id":320915,"date":"2017-05-19T17:26:47","date_gmt":"2017-05-19T17:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=320915"},"modified":"2017-05-19T17:26:47","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T17:26:47","slug":"thomas-minito-suspect-in-kenyas-ranch-raids-found-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/05\/thomas-minito-suspect-in-kenyas-ranch-raids-found-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Minito: Suspect in Kenya’s ranch raids found dead"},"content":{"rendered":"
A Kenyan politician being investigated for the raids in private farms in the Laikipia region has been found dead.<\/p>\n
Thomas Minito’s body was found floating in a river in Machakos, 50km (30 miles) from the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi.<\/p>\n
Police say he was also being investigated for possible involvement in the shooting of Italian-born conservationist Kuki Gallman.<\/p>\n
The army has been deployed to the region to quell months of unrest.<\/p>\n
A biting drought in the Laikipia region had forced herders to invade private farms to get fresh grass for their animals.<\/p>\n
However, some analysts say local politicians incited pastoralists communities to invade private farms.<\/p>\n
Minito was a member of the Baringo county assembly in the Rift Valley and had been reported missing earlier this week, according to media reports.<\/p>\n
After examining the body, police said they suspect that he was murdered because he had a head wound.<\/p>\n
His family is however yet to verify his identity.<\/p>\n
Security forces have been conducting an operation in Laikipia county in central Kenya after a series of attacks on private lodges.<\/p>\n