US to support Kenya on poaching as Uhuru backs deal

The US government yesterday said it would continue to support Kenya in the fight against poaching as President Uhuru Kenyatta declared his support of a deal on the same.

Speaking at the Port of Mombasa during a tour of the facility, visiting US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said the US also faces challenges in controlling illegal trade in game trophies.

"We are also a demand nation and have been used as a conduit for game trophies apart from the fact that we have some of our nationals engaging in this illegal trade," she said.

US SECRETARY TOURS PORT; The Secretary of the Department of Interior of the United States of America Ms Sally Jewell (2nd right), flanked by the Us Envoy to Kenya Robert Godec (right), Cabinet Secretary of Enviroment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities Professor Judy Wakhungu (2nd left) and, among others, the Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho (left) follows proceedings at the port of Mombasa on Tuesday,026th January,2016. She was touring the port of Mombasa to find ways on how Her Government could assist the Country in combating the Illegal wild life trade products. (PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/ STANDARD)

Earlier, the President had held a meeting with Ms Jewell at which he declared the political will to back an agreement to fight poaching, illegal logging and trafficking in wildlife trophies.

"Your presence here is a show of commitment to working together as partners. We are ready to work with everybody because this is not just for us but for future generations globally. We cannot afford to allow our wildlife to be wiped out," the President told the visiting US Secretary.

The President, Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma led the Kenya delegation to the meeting with the US Secretary, just a day after Wakhungu and Jewell signed a memorandum of understanding committing the two countries to jointly deal with the menace.

"Kenya and the US have signed an MoU on National Conservation and Management. The MoU will aid the country's wildlife service to minimise poaching and illegal logging. This is through improving our forensic and surveillance capacity; sharing technology and information, and training rangers," the Head of State posted on Twitter.

Jewell, who was accompanied by US ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec, told Kenyan officials she was optimistic that the co-operation between her government and Kenya will help end the menace.

She said she has met and held discussions with the leadership of China and Vietnam, both regarded as high demand countries for illegal game trophies.

"The main reason has been to try and get these governments to support the fight against poaching so as to deprive the main market of items from poached wildlife," she said.

Ms Wakhungu said efforts put in place by the Government have borne fruit with many interceptions being made locally. "Kenya has not only been a source country but also used as a conduit for international trade in illegal wildlife trophies," the CS said. "We can do more. The main goal is to save biodiversity."