Rise in poaching blamed on illegal guns and KWS

What you need to know:

  • The Samburu-Laikipia region, the report says, is more prone to tribal and pastoralist violence, and closely connected to instability and flow of guns across neighbouring borders
  • Bullets, the report added, are sourced from Kenyan government sources

The proliferation of guns and inadequate rangers are fuelling the killing of wildlife.

A survey commissioned by an American-based wildlife welfare lobby, BornFreeUSA faulted the government for its laxity in fighting poaching in Northern Kenya, endangering the 28,000-strong elephant population.

“The proliferation of small arms is one of Kenya’s most pressing security challenges, contributing to elephant poaching with an estimated 530,000-680,000 guns in civilian hands. There is high concentrations among northern pastoralist communities,” it observes. Inadequate staffing at Kenya Wildlife Service has also been blamed for the situation.

In Tsavo for instance, KWS only has 300 rangers to cover 22,000 square kilometres, 100 of whom did administrative and other non-patrol duties.

The report further says that due to the low number of police officers in the rural areas, residents are now defending themselves by forming vigilante groups, especially in Northern Kenya.

The Samburu-Laikipia region, the report says, is more prone to tribal and pastoralist violence, and closely connected to instability and flow of guns across neighbouring borders.

WIDELY AVAILABLE

It notes that the German G-3 rifle is the standard rifle used by the Kenyan police and army.

But the AK-47 and its associated variants, the M-16 rifle, American carbines, the Israeli Uzi, and many other weapons are widely available.

Bullets, the report added, are sourced from Kenyan government sources.

While commending the Kenya government for enacting punitive anti-poaching laws, the report adds that Kenya’s elephants are insecure because rural populations are unemployed and poor, forcing them to engage in poaching.

“In 2013, 488 people were killed in inter-communal resource-based conflicts with over 55,000 displaced compared to 110,000 displaced in 2012. In November 2012, cattle rustlers massacred over 40 policemen in Samburu in a single ambush,” it says.