Gun found as suspected poachers flee

The Officer Commanding the D Company at the Mountain Conservancy Mr Emmanuel Koech shows Central region PPO Mr Larry Kieng an AK47 rifle that was recovered outside the Aberdares National Park on Monday evening. Five suspects took off on seeing the KWS officers who were on patrol leaving the weapon and other items behind. PHOTO/ERIC MUTAI

What you need to know:

  • However, five suspected poachers who had the arms managed to flee on Monday evening when they were busted.
  • Central regional commander of police, Mr Larry Kieng, said the officers chased the suspected poachers but were unable to catch up with them.
  • The incident raised fears that poachers were digging holes on the electric fence to gain access into the national park.
  • On September 24, wardens arrested two suspected poachers including a Tanzanian National and recovered two homemade guns at the Solio Ranch.

Wildlife officers in Nyeri have recovered an AK47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition outside the Aberdares National Park.

However, five suspected poachers who had the arms managed to flee on Monday evening when they were busted.

The commander in charge of the mountain conservancy, Mr Emmanuel Koech, told the Nation that the rifle could have been intended for killing elephants and rhinos at the park.

“The officers were returning to the Wandare KWS camp after patrolling the area when they found a group of young men sitting outside the fence,” said the commander.

“The youths took off on seeing the officers.”

Central regional commander of police, Mr Larry Kieng, said the officers chased the suspected poachers but were unable to catch up with them.

The wardens returned to the scene where the youths had sat and found the arms, an axe and three bags containing heavy clothing, four kilogrammes of maize flour, cooking fat and salt lick.

KWS officers suspect the poachers intended to lure the animals with the salt lick, shoot them and slaughter the catch with the axe.

“The poachers had dug a hole outside the electric fence which they intended to use to enter the park.

They had enough food to sustain them for some days,” said Mr Kieng.

The incident raised fears that poachers were digging holes on the electric fence to gain access into the national park.

Mr Koech, however, said there had not been any poaching in the park since the year began.

He also said there has been silent in nearby Private Solio Ranch for the last five months.

“We have put enough measures to scare poachers as we need to scare them away.

It is a plus for us as we have managed to disarm the poachers as we enter the New Year,” said the PPO.

He said that the KWS officers were following some leads they expect to lead to the poachers and asked the residents to provide security organs with information to curb the killing of elephants and rhinos.

“We are urging the wardens to increase patrols in the area to prevent the poachers from killing the elephants and rhinos which are endangered species” said Mr Kieng.

On September 24, wardens arrested two suspected poachers including a Tanzanian National and recovered two homemade guns at the Solio Ranch.

Mr Koech expressed concern over the expansive ranch measuring 69 square kilometers which he said is manned by only 35 rangers.

The ranch is recognized as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in the world geared towards rhino conservation has both black and white rhinos and initially 16 white rhinos were purchased from South Africa for breeding business.

Those who run private wildlife sanctuaries have in the past accused security guards seconded by the government to help boost security, of colluding with criminals, so that they can harvest valuable trophies, and share the illegal proceedings.

The illegal horns are sold to Asian countries where they are in high demand and they are said to be helping fund terror activities.