China to help fund anti-poaching war

China has pledged to fund Kenya’s efforts to curb wildlife poaching.

Speaking at a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Prof Judi Wakhungu, Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan said his country would give Kenya a grant, which he did not specify, to protect the elephant, rhino and other endangered species.

The pledge comes in the wake of renewed efforts by the Kenyan authorities to totally eradicate poaching.

The government has already formed a special unit to fight the menace, with China, the United States and UK among the countries funding it.

Last week, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launched the “Hands off Elephants” campaign to spearhead the protection of elephants.

Speaking during the meeting with Prof Wakhungu, the Chinese envoy urged Kenya to strengthen wildlife conservation measures and severely punish poachers.

China’s anti-poaching laws are some of the most stringent in the world, with offenders often getting life imprisonment.

Expressing Kenya’s wish to join hands with other nations in combating illegal ivory and rhino horn trade, Prof Wakhungu praised China for its consistent measures and actions towards the enforcement of wildlife conservation laws.

The Kenya Wildlife Service says Kenya lost 384 elephants and 29 rhino to poachers last year alone. This year, 190 elephants and 34 rhinos have been killed.

Last month, a huge consignment of ivory was impounded in Mombasa.

The ivory, weighing 3.3 metric tonnes and valued at Sh65 million, was concealed in gunny sacks and declared as groundnuts bound for Malaysia.

The consignment comprised 382 whole pieces and 62 cut pieces of ivory.

The seizure came barely two months after customs officials in the United Arab Emirates seized 259 pieces of ivory shipped from Mombasa.