On Saturday, three police officers and a civilian were arrested in Kitengela, Kajiado, after being found in possession of five elephant tusks, two pistols, and 30 bullets. The tusks, weighing 29 kilograms and valued at KSh 2.9 million, led to their apprehension by officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
Kitengela police boss Patrick Manyasi confirmed the arrests, explaining that the suspects had been monitored by KWS officers who ultimately facilitated their capture. The suspects were tracked from Eldoret to Nairobi and finally to Kitengela, where they were apprehended at a roadblock.
During the arrest, the suspects reportedly drew their pistols but were subdued by the KWS officers. Among the arrested were a police constable attached to Judiciary Milimani as a driver and another officer associated with a senior politician from Eldoret.
The suspects were initially held at Kitengela Police Station before being transferred to KWS holding in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The arrested individuals will face charges under Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 for possessing wildlife trophies of endangered species. Officials indicated that the seizure suggests the recent killing of up to two elephants, likely within nearby parks.
This incident follows a similar case last week when three suspected poachers were arrested in Kibwezi, Makueni County, with eight elephant tusks worth KSh 2 million. They were intercepted along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, and the tusks, weighing about 20 kilograms, were detained at the KWS Chyulu Hills National Park office.
The arrests highlight the ongoing issue of ivory poaching driven by high demand in the East, perpetuating the illegal trade of elephant tusks from Africa.
Despite the international ban on ivory trade, African elephants continue to be poached in significant numbers. To combat this, Kenya has implemented high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to monitor poachers and track the movement of elephants and rhinos.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and various stakeholders have developed several strategies to eradicate wildlife crime, particularly poaching.
These strategies include:
1. Enhanced Community Education: Educating local communities about the importance of wildlife conservation and the economic benefits of preserving wildlife.
2.Interagency Collaboration: Working closely with other law enforcement and conservation agencies to strengthen anti-poaching efforts.
3. Intensive Intelligence-led Operations: Conducting operations based on gathered intelligence to apprehend poachers and dismantle poaching networks.
These concerted efforts yielded remarkable results, such as achieving zero rhino poaching in Kenya in 2020 for the first time in about two decades. However, the challenge remains significant, as at least 20,000 elephants are killed annually in Africa for their ivory.
This rate translates to approximately 55 elephants killed daily or one every 26 minutes, with the continent’s elephant population estimated at around 35,000.
In addition to deploying technology and collaborative efforts, Kenya’s parliament has passed strict anti-poaching laws, and the government has increased security in national parks to protect wildlife, which is crucial for the country’s tourism industry.
On a regional level, Kenya has become a significant transit route for ivory destined for Asian markets from eastern and central Africa. The illegal ivory trade is primarily driven by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks and rhino horns are prized for ornaments and traditional medicines.
Overall, while significant progress has been made, continued vigilance and innovative approaches are necessary to combat the persistent threat of poaching and ensure the survival of Africa’s elephants and other endangered species.
