UK army trains rangers in anti ambush moves

By Lydiah Nyawira

Nyeri, Kenya: The war against poaching and illegal logging in the country got a much needed boost after the UK government through the British Army, trained fifty rangers in anti-ambush techniques.

The officers drawn from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) underwent a three day capacity building exercise that honed their skills in tackling ambushes from poachers and planning and positioning themselves strategically to prevent intrusions into game areas.

In the past three months, there have been several intrusions onto private ranches and conservancies as well as into protected forest and game reserves.

Nine rhinos from Solio Game Reserve in Nyeri County, have been killed by poachers and four rangers have lost their lives in the past six months.

Mt Kenya Conservancy Area KWS Assistant Director Aggrey Maumo said poachers often targeted the sanctuaries at night when there is moonlight and the rangers were on high alert during this time.

There have been several arrests including one, which involved a Tanzanian national who claimed to be a witchdoctor for the gang of poachers who were apprehended Near Solio Ranch.

The campaign to stop ivory trade came to Nyeri County in June this year when Jim Nyamu, the conservation lobbyist took his final lap with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in Nyeri town.

Fight poaching

The British Secretary of State for Environment Owen Paterson earlier this week said the British Army would join forces with KWS and KFS to fight poaching in the country.

The training exercise at Kamahura Forest in Nanyuki, Laikipia County is part of the UK government’s collaboration effort to provide patrolling skills and field training to rangers.

Ben Neary of the British Army said the training was meant to focus on preventing intrusions into animal sanctuaries.