Thomas Minito: Suspect in Kenya's ranch raids found

A Kenyan politician being investigated for the raids in
 private farms in the Laikipia region has been found dead.

Thomas Minito's body was found floating in a river in Machakos, 50km (30 miles) from the outskirts of the 
capital, Nairobi.

Police say he was also being investigated for possible
involvement in the shooting of Italian-born 
conservationist Kuki Gallman .

The army has been deployed to the region to quell 
months of unrest.

A biting drought in the Laikipia region had forced 
herders to invade private farms to get fresh grass 
for their animals.

However, some analysts say local politicians incited pastoralists communities to invade private farms.


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.

After examining the body, police said they suspect that 
he was murdered because he had a head wound.

His family is however yet to verify his identity.

Security forces have been conducting an operation in
 Laikipia county in central Kenya after a series of attacks on private lodges.

Tristan Voorspuy, an ex-British army officer, was 
killed in March when he went to inspect his lodge.

Pastoralists have accused police of killing hundreds
 of their animals in an attempt to drive them out of
 the farms.

The privately-owned Star newspaper reports that Minito
 was arrested last month and freed on bond for allegedly planning violence in Laikipia and neighbouring Baringo 
county in which several people were killed or injured and livestock were either stolen or killed.