Team set up to deal with poaching menace in Nakuru park
What you need to know:
- This comes in the wake of the killing of six rhinos in the park since the beginning of the year.
- The security agencies were studying the movement of the poachers to establish their network, which, he said, had its roots outside Nakuru County.
- The squad has been named Linda Kifaru na Angamiza Uharamia (Kiswahili for protect the rhino and eliminate poaching), Mr Birik said in an interview with the Nation Wednesday.
A security unit has been formed to tackle threats to wildlife in Nakuru county.
Its main aim is to protect rhinos, which are currently facing danger from poachers at Lake Nakuru National Park.
County Commissioner Mohammed Birik said the squad comprised officers from different police wings and Kenya Wildlife Service rangers.
“We want to deal ruthlessly with the poachers and that is why we have picked the best of our officers from each of the agencies,” he said.
This comes in the wake of the killing of six rhinos in the park since the beginning of the year.
The squad has been named Linda Kifaru na Angamiza Uharamia (Kiswahili for protect the rhino and eliminate poaching), Mr Birik said in an interview with the Nation Wednesday.
“We’re now tired of activities of these poachers. They have killed several rhinos and as a security team, we want to deal with them once and for all.”
The administrator spoke to the Nation on the sidelines of a breakfast meeting called by Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Susan Kihika to address security. The squad will monitor, gather information and organise operations to track down the poachers.
“This squad has identified all the entry and exit routes which poachers have been using to kill our national heritage,” said Mr Birik.
Last week security officers gunned down one poacher at the national park.
The security agencies were studying the movement of the poachers to establish their network, which, he said, had its roots outside Nakuru County.
“We have made a breakthrough as we have identified and understood their intricate network and resources through our research and intelligence. It is just a matter of time before we break this network,” Mr Birik said.
“Lake Nakuru National Park is the main tourist attraction, not only for Nakuru County, but also for the entire country, and we shall not allow a few unpatriotic individuals to sabotage our economy.”
The park has been zoned into three sections and security agents placed in areas which poachers use to access the 188-square kilometre facility.
