Three suspected ivory smugglers arrested in Nairobi

KWS rangers guard intercepted ivory at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the past. Three suspected ivory smugglers were on December 30, 2014 arrested in Nairobi as they ferried 14 kilogrammes of ivory on a motorcycle. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP  NATION

In Summary

• Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the three were remanded at the Langata Police Station.
• KWS also arrested eighteen herdsmen for illegal livestock grazing at the Tsavo West National Park.

By STELLA CHERONO
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Three suspected ivory smugglers were on Tuesday arrested in Nairobi as they ferried 14 kilogrammes of ivory on a motorcycle.

The three —John Waweru, John Waigwa, and Roseline Kimani — were arrested at Kayole junction along Nairobi’s Kangundo Road.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the three were remanded at the Langata Police Station and are expected to appear in court to be charged with being in possession of and trafficking wildlife products.

“KWS also arrested eighteen herdsmen for illegal livestock grazing at the Tsavo West National Park. They were arrested during a security operation and have been remanded at the Taita Taveta police station and are due to be charged with illegal grazing in a protected area” the statement from KWS stated.

Livestock incursion in Kenya’s national parks and reserves is one of the major threats to wildlife conservation.

The livestock deplete food and water resources for wildlife and poachers take advantage of these incursions by posing as herdsmen.

“Besides, livestock intruding the protected areas pose the danger of spreading diseases,” KWS stated.