Police in Kitengela, Kajiado County, have arrested three fellow police officers and one civilian for allegedly possessing elephant tusks valued at Sh2.5 million.
The dramatic arrest comes after a high-speed chase that ended just meters from the Kitengela Police Station itself.
According to Isinya Police boss Patric Manyasi, the suspects were trailed by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who had been tracking them, leading to the dramatic chase that stretched from Eldoret.
The details of the chase remain unclear, but it highlights a disturbing trend: the involvement of law enforcement personnel in wildlife trafficking. Manyasi confirmed that KWS officers played a crucial role in the arrest, suggesting they tipped off Kitengela Police about the approaching suspects.
This incident raises serious concerns about the fight against elephant poaching in Kenya. With police officers themselves implicated in the illegal ivory trade, it underscores the complexity of the issue and the potential for corruption within law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting wildlife.
The arrested officers and civilian remains may face charges under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, which carries hefty penalties for wildlife trafficking.
