The war against poaching has received a major boost from the government after the National Treasury allocated Ksh 1.4 billion (USD 14.5 million) to anti-poaching efforts. This announcement was made yesterday by the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich when he presented the 2015/2016 Financial Year budget estimates in Parliament.
Rotich said that the government had allocated the amount to help in the war against poaching in the country. Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a directive to have all customs officers suspected of perpetrating wildlife crimes prosecuted and charged immediately. A tough talking Mr Kenyatta said that port officers and any other person involved in trafficking of wildlife products from the port of Mombasa will be arrested and charged.
This is welcome news in conservation circles, coming a few months after Kenya Wildlife Service unveiled a new forensic and genetics laboratory to strengthen prosecution of wildlife crimes by aiding in the provision of accurate identification of wildlife and wildlife products.
Commenting on the funds allocation, WildlifeDirect CEO Dr. Paula Kahumbu said that this was a very encouraging gesture from the Kenya government but a lot more money will be needed to win the war against poaching and trafficking of wildlife products.
“Poaching and trafficking are organized international crimes and need billions to fight the cartels involved in it,’’ she said. ” But this is one huge step in the right direction”.
She called on donors to chip in and give support to augment government’s efforts in the war against poaching.
On Wednesday, one of the most wanted poachers was arrested in his Tana River hideout. Mohamed Bulle who has been linked to poaching activities in Tsavo, Taita Ranch and the Maasai Mara game reserve was arrested by a combined team of Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Wildlife Service and intelligence officers.
Late last month, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery also linked the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council to poaching activities in the country. The CS said intelligence by the police shows that proceeds from ivory trafficking are being used to finance criminal activities and linked a latest consignment seized in Singapore and Thailand to the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC), an outlawed separatist group. Several people have so far been arrested in connection to the seizures.
