Police in Kiambu are holding four suspects arrested in possession of fifteen elephant tusks in a joint operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and their Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) counterparts yesterday evening.
The four were seized following a sting operation at Wangige, Kiambu county.
“Four people have been arrested and 15 pieces of elephant tusks recovered following an intelligence led operation in Wangige, Kiambu county last night. In an operation between our officers and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel, the 15 pieces of elephant tusks were recovered.” An update by the DCI reads in part.
The four, Daniel Musembi Kimilu, Michael Kimeru Karanja, Charles Njomo Okwach and Jane Wangui Kiarie are being held at King’eero Police Station pending arraignment today.
In 2017, the Elephant Neighbours Centre Jim Nyamu said that oaching has reduced elephant’s population in the country from 167,000 in 1976 to 25,000 in 2013.
He cited Laikipia and Samburu counties as the hardest hit counties by poachers targeting elephants.
At the time, in Marsabit, the elephant population stood at 76 from previous figure of 300.