By Renson Mnyamwezi
Taita Taveta, Kenya: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel have arrested a suspected poacher and recovered two AK47 rifles in the ongoing crack-down at the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) in Taita-Taveta County.
According to TCA Assistant Director Robert Obrein, the suspect from Tana River County was arrested at Baridi area near Galana Ranch while taking the arms to his accomplices.
“KWS personnel on patrol confronted the suspect and recovered the arms, including 23 rounds of ammunition. We suspect the rifles were the same ones used to kill two rangers last year,” said the director.
The two rangers, among them a pregnant female officer, were shot dead by armed bandits and their arms seized at Sagala Ranch while on patrol. “We also think the suspect was among those who killed our rangers,” said Mr Obrein.
The arrest brings to 75 the number of poachers arrested recently.
Use of drones
Over the weekend, KWS personnel arrested nine subsistence poachers and recovered over three tonnes of game meat in the Tsavo area. They also impounded giraffe and lesser kudu meat, including 125 snare wires and poisoned arrows.
The anti-poaching measures recently introduced include the use of drones, and conservationists now report that a notorious criminal released from jail on presidential pardon is one of the poaching masterminds.
During President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour of the region, local leaders led by the Governor John Mruttu and Senator Dan Mwazo complained of insecurity and petitioned the government to intervene.
The leaders, among them MPs Andrew Mwadime, Jones Mlolwa and Naomi Shaban, said criminal gangs had sneaked into the Tsavo ecosystem and were slaughtering wildlife with impunity, which was compounded by poverty and worrying unemployment levels.
“If the illegal guns cannot be seized then criminals will continue compromising security in the region,” noted Mruttu.
Obrein warned the local community against consuming game meat, saying it could be dangerous to their health.
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