Kenya Wildlife Service arrests suspected illegal herders in crackdown

Herders have been warned against grazing their animals in the Tsavo Conservation Area. [PHOTO: FILE]

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

Taita Taveta County; Kenya: The Kenya Wildlife Service announced the arrest of eight suspected illegal herders and drove out thousands of heads of cattle illegally grazing in the Tsavo Conservation Area in Taita Taveta County.

TCA Assistant Director Robert Obrein and Taita OCPD Joakim Mogeni said the suspects were arrested while grazing in the Tsavo West National Park and would be charged with trespassing.

Mr Obrein said more than 30 suspects had been arrested in the ecosystem this week in a major crackdown on illegal herders in the vast park.

Hiring juveniles

“Livestock owners have formed a habit of hiring juveniles to graze their animals in the park to avoid arrest. We are talking to the Judiciary to ensure that the minors are charged in court and later taken to approved schools,” said the director. “Most of the minors have dropped out of school and were being hired as herders. The livestock owners will be arrested and charged with child abuse.”

Mr Obrein said the northern part of Tsavo is the worst hit by livestock invasion.

At the same time, leaders in the region have said they support the impending security operation to rid the area of criminal gangs that have been slaughtering wildlife in the TCA.

Led by the Governor John Mruttu, the leaders, who included Senator Dan Mwazo, MPs Joyce Wanjala Lay, Thomas Mwadeghu, Andrew Mwadime and Jones Mlolwa, said the indiscriminate killing of wildlife by poachers was hurting tourism activities in the country.

Mr Mwazo and Ms Lay said illegal herders were a threat to security and should be evicted for peace to prevail in the region.

A section of pastoralists who had been evicted from ranches in the region had complained that they had suffered because of mistakes committed by other people.