By Job Weru
KENYA: The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the police in Nanyuki have shot dead a suspected poacher and recovered three AK 47 rifles loaded with 117 rounds of ammunition.
Laikipia East OCPD Mr Joshua Lutukai said the suspect was shot dead in his hideout in the sprawling Likii village in Nanyuki town, where police also recovered an axe, binoculars and other assorted items.
Lutukai said the suspect was killed after he declined to surrender and instead engaged police and KWS officers in a gun battle.
The police chief said the officers raided the suspect’s house following a tip off from members of the public.
“We received information, which bore fruits. We are still hunting down the deceased’s accomplices,” said Lutukai.
The deceased is believed to have shot dead a black rhino at the Ol’Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia last week.
After the killing of the lactating mother, ranch officials and pilots from Tropic Airfield in Nanyuki airlifted the six-month calf to Lewa Conservancy.
The gang also shot and injured a 24-year-old resident of Matanya area as they were running away from game rangers attached to the ranch.
The incident occurred barely two days after police in Nanyuki killed two gangsters, who were part of a four-man gang that had raided an M-Pesa shop and attempted to steal cash.
They were cornered at Baraka estate, where they hid in a homestead. One of them was in a pit latrine, while his accomplice was in a cattle shed-where they were killed.
Police recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with one round of ammunition.
Separately, KWS warders have killed a hippopotamus that attacked and killed a 52-year-old farmer at Ngare Nyiro village in Segera Location.
Senior warden Dickson Too said the hippo was killed by KWS rangers who were deployed to the area to track it after the attack.
The hippo attacked Jackson Macharia, and he died while on the way to Nanyuki District Hospital.
