Two teachers have been arrested, alongside 3 other poachers in Kajiado after being found in possession of ivory valued at Ksh 1.8 million – By Gerald Gekara.
The five suspects who are aged between 27- 39 years are Nelson Wuantai Njiraini (a Deputy head teacher at a local primary school) Samson Ntinga, Francis Lakati Ngarua, Dickson Kirinkol and Emmanuel Kantet Swankei.
County Directorate of Criminal investigation officer Isaac Meme, who confirmed the incident, said the suspects were arrested while transporting the ivories using a Probox vehicle KCB 980D and a motorbike, KMCU 851S.
Meme also confirmed the hunt was initiated after rangers found an elephant that was killed at Emotoroki area within Mashuru Sub-County.
He said that the unit received information over the group that had been seen in Kajiado town allegedly looking for a buyer for the 18Kg elephant ivories. It was then that the detectives pounced on them & made the recovery.
The suspects have been put under Police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court on Monday.
The Kenya Wildlife Services has stepped up efforts to increase capacity among rangers to protect endangered wildlife. This has seen an increase in patrols aimed at locating poachers and lobbying to thwart the Asian ivory market.
