KWS raises concern over rising cases of ivory trafficking

Two suspects who were arrested by KWS officers ferrying four pieces of ivory tusks in Suswa along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road wait to be taken into police custody. KWS has decried rising cases of ivory trafficking in the country. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has raised a red flag over rising cases of ivory trafficking in the last couple of months.

This came, as two suspects were arrested in Suswa along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road, and four pieces of ivory worth more than Sh4.8 million recovered.

The sting operation by KWS officers came barely a fortnight after two suspects, including a police officer, were nabbed in the same area, ferrying 29 pieces of ivory tusks.

Last month, three suspects, including a police officer, were arrested in Kajiado while ferrying more than 20 pieces of ivory to Nairobi.

In the latest incident, KWS officers had set up a trap when they cornered the duo travelling to Nairobi to deliver the cargo to waiting 'customers.'

KWS Senior Warden in Naivasha Francis Mutuko said they got wind of some suspects seeking market for several pieces of ivory in their possession.

Mutoko revealed that the suspects had stayed with the tusks for over a year before the investigating officers got a tip off from the public.

"Our officers acting on a tip off managed to trap the two suspects who were travelling to Nairobi to sell the ivory and arrested them," he said.

He decried the rising cases of ivory trafficking, saying that recovery meant that some elephants had been killed.

Mutoko said that last month, KWS officers arrested two more suspects in Wanjohi, Nyandarua, ferrying seven pieces of tusks valued at more than Sh3.8 million.

"We are deeply disturbed by resurgence of cases of ivory trafficking, which means that some people are killing elephants in different parts of the country," he said.

He noted that in all the cases, the suspects had been taken to court and in the latest incident, the two were being interrogated by DCI officers in Naivasha.

Already, the Wildlife Training and Research Institute (WRTI) has embarked on a national wildlife census to establish the current status of wildlife population and their distribution.

The census comes in the wake of the recent drought and flooding, which killed and displaced hundreds of wildlife in various parts of the country.

WRTI Director Patrick Omondi said data obtained from census would provide information to support the development of counties' spatial plans, and protected areas and ecosystems management plans.

Dr Omondi noted that the country's wildlife landscape was facing challenges, including poaching and increasing human and livestock population.