KWS arrests poachers in Tsavo East

A motorist drives through Tsavo West. The suspects gained entry into the park through the Standard Gauge Railway. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The two suspects will be arraigned in court on Monday.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) detectives arrested two suspected poachers on Saturday after they were found ferrying game meat at Tsavo East National Park in Voi, Taita Taveta County.

The two, Lalo Mkubwa and Samson Mashundu, were found with 29 carcases of dikdik that were being offloaded from a truck to a trailer for possible transport to Mombasa.

Police said the driver of the trailer belonging to Bayusuf and Sons Limited escaped. They have launched a manhunt to arrest the suspect.

According to Voi Sub-County police commander Bernstein Shari, the detectives were acting on intelligence that poachers were ferrying game meat at Tsavo River area. He said the dikdiks were in three sacks.

"They laid an ambush and managed to intercept the two vehicles. They established that the suspects gained entry into the park through the Standard Gauge Railway," he said.

The commander said the vehicles have been towed to Voi police station as investigations into the incident continue.

"The two suspects will be arraigned in court on Monday. They will be charged with malicious damage to property, poaching and being in possession of game meat," he said.