Ugandan suspected of illegal logging shot dead along Kenya-Uganda border

By Osinde Obare

Kenya: A Ugandan national was shot dead and another one arrested following a fierce shoot out with the Kenya Forest Service officials along Kenya-Uganda border.

The KFS officers recovered an AK-47 rifle and four rounds of ammunition from the group.

The KFS officers were on patrol in the Suan Forest in Trans Nzoia when they bumped into a group of men cutting trees and burning charcoal.

The officers ordered the group to surrender but instead, one of the men armed with an AK-47 rifle opened fire at the officers.

Trans-Nzoia County Commander Lillian Okembo said during the gun battle one of the intruders was killed and another arrested.

She said the Ugandan nationals had sneaked into the forest and were burning charcoal when the officers discovered their illegal activities.

“There was a fierce exchange of fire between the KFS and charcoal dealers. Our officers managed to shoot dead one and arrested another one,” said Okembo.

Trans-Nzoia ecosystem conservator Simon Wahome told The Standard that some Ugandans are behind illegal logging and poaching in the forest.

“Some of these people are heavily armed and pose a serious threat to the conservation of the forest. We have however intensified patrols to tackle the menace,” said Wahome.

The incident comes barely three days after KFS launched a drive to plant 11 million plus seedlings in forest land in North Rift.

Senior Assistant Director of KFS Monica Kalenda unveiled the tree planting campaign at Teldet forest in Saboti Trans-Nzoia County.

Kalenda said KFS has partnered with local community forest associations to improve forest cover in the region through Plantation Establishment Livelihood Improvement Scheme PELIS.