Kwale County Government staff arrested in possession of ivory
A Kwale County government staff has been detained by police officers after being found in possession of 12 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 35 Kg.
Josphat Mtoi Kurihe, a 53-year-old county employee, works as a clerical officer in Kinango Sub County was arrested inside a local guest house by a team of security officers drawn from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and Criminal Investigation Department Officers who have been trailing him for some days.
The undercover detectives disguised as customers arrested the suspect and handed him over to police headquarters in Kwale town for further investigations.
Kuri wanted to sell the tusks at Sh 100,000 each but they have a higher street value than that according to Muichande.
The KWS warden said the suspect is believed to have gotten the elephant tusks after poaching activities inside the Kuranze ranches.
Police report reveals that tusks might have originated from Kuranze ranches within Kinango where three elephants are believed to have been killed.
Detectives believe that after obtaining the ivory, he diced it into 12 smaller pieces, which were later discovered at his home.
He will be arraigned in court on Monday with possession of elephant tusks.
Earlier this year on January 29,2021, a court in Kajiado sentenced a man to 10 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for being in possession of elephant tusks.
Christopher Watia, who appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Becky Cheloti, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to the charge of dealing in wildlife trophies contrary to section 92(2) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (WCMA) 2013.
Watia was arrested by a joint security team in Namanga on November 13, 2020 while in possession of three pieces of elephant tusks weighing approximately 3 kilograms with a street value of Sh. 1.2 million.
He was charged jointly with his co-accused Suyanga Merin who denied the charge and the hearing of his case set for May 7, 2021.
