Police officer, civilian nabbed trafficking ivory worth Sh3 million
Antony Gitonga, The Standard
July 1, 2024
See link
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/rift-valley/article/2001498180/police-officer-civilian-nabbed-trafficking-ivory-worth-sh3-million
for photo and video.
Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) officers in Naivasha have arrested two
suspects, including a junior police officer, for trafficking elephant ivory
worth close to Sh3m.
The two suspects were arrested along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road while
ferrying the 29 pieces from Narok to Nairobi.
This came as the government agency raised its concern over an increase in
cases of ivory trafficking in the country, noting that it was affecting
wildlife conservation.
Last month, three suspects, including a police officer, were arrested in
Kajiado while ferrying over 20 pieces of ivory to Nairobi.
In the latest incident, the two suspects were waiting for a matatu along
the road when KWS officers moved in and arrested them.
According to Francis Mutuko, KWS Senior Warden in charge of Naivasha, the
29 pieces had been parked in two bags when the suspects were nabbed.
He expressed his concern that among those arrested was a police officer who
was supposed to be the custodian of the law.
“We have arrested two suspects, including a junior police officer and
recovered elephant tusks worth around Sh2.9m following a sting operation
along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road,” he said.
While decrying the rise in cases of trafficking of ivory, he said that the
two suspects would be handed over to DCIO officers for further
interrogation before being arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, three people, including two prominent Naivasha traders died
following a grisly road accident involving three vehicles along the
Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The two men and one woman died on the spot while two others were seriously
injured following the 10 pm accident near Marula farm 10 km from Naivasha
town.
The five were heading to Naivasha town from Gilgil when their car was hit
twice by two trailers heading in the opposite direction, leading to the
fatal accident.
Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui confirmed the accident, adding that the drivers
of the two trailers were also injured and admitted at Naivasha sub-county
hospital.
“We had an accident involving a personal car and two trailers along the
highway, and we lost three people while four other people were admitted to
hospital,” he said.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/rift-valley/article/2001498180/police-officer-civilian-nabbed-trafficking-ivory-worth-sh3-million
Police officer, civilian nabbed trafficking ivory worth Sh3 million
Antony Gitonga, The Standard
July 1, 2024
See link
<https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/rift-valley/article/2001498180/police-officer-civilian-nabbed-trafficking-ivory-worth-sh3-million>
for photo and video.
Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) officers in Naivasha have arrested two
suspects, including a junior police officer, for trafficking elephant ivory
worth close to Sh3m.
The two suspects were arrested along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road while
ferrying the 29 pieces from Narok to Nairobi.
This came as the government agency raised its concern over an increase in
cases of ivory trafficking in the country, noting that it was affecting
wildlife conservation.
Last month, three suspects, including a police officer, were arrested in
Kajiado while ferrying over 20 pieces of ivory to Nairobi.
In the latest incident, the two suspects were waiting for a matatu along
the road when KWS officers moved in and arrested them.
According to Francis Mutuko, KWS Senior Warden in charge of Naivasha, the
29 pieces had been parked in two bags when the suspects were nabbed.
He expressed his concern that among those arrested was a police officer who
was supposed to be the custodian of the law.
“We have arrested two suspects, including a junior police officer and
recovered elephant tusks worth around Sh2.9m following a sting operation
along the Mai Mahiu-Narok road,” he said.
While decrying the rise in cases of trafficking of ivory, he said that the
two suspects would be handed over to DCIO officers for further
interrogation before being arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, three people, including two prominent Naivasha traders died
following a grisly road accident involving three vehicles along the
Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The two men and one woman died on the spot while two others were seriously
injured following the 10 pm accident near Marula farm 10 km from Naivasha
town.
The five were heading to Naivasha town from Gilgil when their car was hit
twice by two trailers heading in the opposite direction, leading to the
fatal accident.
Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui confirmed the accident, adding that the drivers
of the two trailers were also injured and admitted at Naivasha sub-county
hospital.
“We had an accident involving a personal car and two trailers along the
highway, and we lost three people while four other people were admitted to
hospital,” he said.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/rift-valley/article/2001498180/police-officer-civilian-nabbed-trafficking-ivory-worth-sh3-million