Two suspected poachers arrested

By RENSON MNYAMWEZI and NDERITU GICHURE

Suspected poachers believed to be part of a gang that killed two elephants on a ranch in Taita-Taveta County have been arrested.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel announced yesterday that two suspects were being interrogated in connection with the incident.

According to senior KWS officials, the elephants were killed on Amaka Ranch in the Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) on Wednesday.

“We will take the suspects to court once we are through with our investigations,” said Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) Assistant Director Robert O’Brien.

He disclosed that an anti-poaching unit commander suffered injuries during a gunfight with poachers in the TCA. The officer was treated in hospital and later discharged.

The incident comes barely a month after KWS rangers gunned down three suspected poachers in the sprawling park in a major crackdown on poaching activities in the region.

Rangers on patrol shot dead the poachers in Kyulu near the Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary in the Tsavo West National Park. A 303 rifle with several rounds of ammunition, poisoned arrows and axes among other poaching gear were recovered during the operation.

Meanwhile, two suspected poachers arrested by Kenya Wildlife Service officers in Solio Game Reserve were yesterday arraigned in a Nyeri court and charged with being in possession of two automatic rifles.

Joseph Ndegwa Mwenje and a Tanzanian, Hussein Muhamed Mukumbukwa, were charged that on September 24, at Lamuria Sub-location in Nyeri County, they were found in possession of two Mark 4 rifles.

lllegal alien

Mukumbukwa faced a second count of being in the country unlawfully. However, the two denied both charges and the prosecution applied for them to be remanded in custody for one day.

Mukumbukwa refuted claims that he was in the country illegally, saying his passport was at his host’s house; he promised to produce it in court.

The case will be mentioned on September 27, and the hearing was scheduled for October 29.

Nyeri County Police Commander Agnes Lihabi said the suspected  poachers had on Monday night attempted to kill a white rhino in the reserve.