Wildlife groups urge President Kenyatta to declare poaching national disaster
Dr Richard Leakey addressing the press on March 19, 2014. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
- Former Director of Public Prosecutions Phillip Murgor said KWS officials should be committed in fighting the vice by having suspected poachers charged in court
- KWS corporate communications manager Paul Udoto defended the agency saying they were doing their best given that they only had 2,700 rangers protecting wildlife countrywide
Wildlife conservationists have condemned the increasing cases of poaching and want President Kenyatta to declare the menace a national disaster.
Renowned conservationist, Dr Richard Leakey and the WildlifeDirect chief executive officer, Dr Paula Kahumbu, said this would see the government invoke drastic measures to crack down on poachers.
The President, the conservationists said, can no longer ignore the fact that the criminals belong to international crime rings that pose a major threat to the economy and security of the nation.
Dr Leakey, who is a former Kenya Wildlife Service director, accused national security agencies of failing to work together to fight poaching, which is a threat to national security.
“The President should declare elephant and rhinos national treasures under protection of the State,” said Dr Leakey during a press conference at the Serena Hotel, Nairobi.
He said those behind poaching were known and are benefiting from protection by some influential State officials who see no value in protecting the country’s heritage.
Former Director of Public Prosecutions Phillip Murgor said KWS officials should be committed in fighting the vice by having suspected poachers charged in court and providing sufficient evidence to link them to the crimes.
“Unless evidence is presented from the field right up to the courts, the cases will go nowhere. The major problem is that KWS lacks proper training. You must arrest the right person and adduce evidence in court,” Mr Murgor who is a board member of WildlifeDirect said.
Dr Kahumbu said statistics from KWS indicating that poaching had declined over the years were wrong revealing that since January, 16 rhinos had been killed, yet no poacher had been convicted.
KWS corporate communications manager Paul Udoto defended the agency saying they were doing their best given that they only had 2,700 rangers protecting wildlife countrywide. (READ: KWS declares all-out war against poachers)
