Government sets up taskforce to investigate poaching

A rhino killed in Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary last year. [Photo: Courtesy]

By PROTUS ONYANGO

Kenya: The Government has formed a taskforce to find out the magnitude of the problems facing the wildlife sector, particularly poaching.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Prof Judi Wakhungu, gazetted a taskforce on wildlife security and its full report by the end of next month. The team is headed by Nehemiah Rotich, a former Director of KWS.

“As you are all aware, the poaching and trafficking in wildlife are trans-national problems that have increased in sophistication and scope. We call upon all stakeholders to come forward and share their views with the taskforce,” Ms Wakhungu said Friday at KWS headquarters in a speech read by Principal Secretary Dr Richard Lesiyampe.

The Cabinet Secretary also presented the situation of the wildlife sector to the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources last week.

In addition, the Government has constituted an inter-ministerial committee to scrutinise and oversee operations in KWS for the next three months with a view of identifying challenges in the service and undertaking remedial measures.