Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
The high number of Chinese national working on various road construction projects are blamed for the increased poaching of elephants and smuggling of ivory out of Kenya.
The alarming increase in smuggling of ivory has raised concerns that elephant poaching is spiraling out of control.
And the officials of the Kenya Wildlife Service {KWS} and conservationists are pointing an accusing finger at the swollen number of Chinese national working in Kenya for the various road construction works at the suspected culprits.
Statistics released to the media early this week by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife show that poaching of elephants is resurging and is being aided by lax in control at points of exports where corrupt government officials are aiding poachers to operate freely.
Environmentalists have warned that it will be just a matter of time before the elephants population in Kenya is wiped out if the government does not step in to stem the illegal trade.
The Kenya Wildlife Service {KWS} Director Julius Kipng’etich was yesterday quoted by one of the dailies {The STANDARD} as saying that the increase in elephant deaths has correlation with the presence of a high number of Chinese construction workers in the country.
He said most of the elephants killed by poachers recently occurred in areas in Samburu and Laikipia Counties, that has private ranches and are close to the Moyale-Isiolo road, which is currently under the construction by a contracted Chinese construction firm.
On of the reasons cited by experts for the failure to achieve to eradicate poaching in Kenya is weak penalties meted out to the offenders. A person caught with Ivory can be fined Kshs 10,000 {USD 112} while in some countries, the same offence leads to a life imprisonment sentence.
Parliament is this week debating on a damn report presented by the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Dr. Noah Wekesa after parliamentary questions were raised on whether Ivory was now gradually replacing drugs as an illegal source of money for corrupt individuals.
The report presented last week shows that two months ago, 247 elephants tusks valued at Kshs 380 million were exported from Momnbasa by ship to Thailand, but Thais Customs officials seized the consignment.
The Ivory was packed in cartons with customs documents indicating that they were frozen mackerel fish. A day after the report was tabled in Parliament, 100 tusks destined to Nigeria were seized at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Since 2003, poachers have killed 844 elephants in Kenya. Out of this number, 70 were butchered within the first four months of this year. But this number is believed to have risen because of the 100 tusks seized last Friday.
In the case of 247 tusks smuggled out two months ago, the Minister said customs officials at the Kilindini Harbors in the coastal port city of Mombasa.
The Minister wants directors of a clearing agency that facilitated the export to be arrested for aiding as illegality, forgery and falsified of official documents.
The report tabled in Parliament named the clearing agency as a Mr Mhaso as the agent and two of its directors as Edward Mhaso and Frederick Sababu Mngulo..
KWS confirmed that there has been an increase in poaching activities but only outside National Parks, which are well guarded.
Kipng’etich disclosed that he has requested the Commissioner of Police of Police Mathew Iteere to allow his rangers to patrol private ranches in Samburu and Laikipia regions.
THE KWS director blamed the poaching on the increase number of Chinese national presence in the country undertaking various road construction projects in particular the road between the capital Nairobi and Moyale.
“There is a clear link of presence of Chinese national in the country and illegal export of elephant tusks.”.
Whereas the offense is handled as an economic crime and punishable by death in China, Kipng’etich said her our laws are weak since one is only fined Kshs 10,000 {USD 112}.
Kipng’etich called for the amendment of the laws to enhance the punishment saying the move will instill ear in poacher and consequently, eliminate the vice. He added Ivory smugglers chose Kenya as their point of export since it has a robust port as well as an international airport that links them with the world in the region. Questions are now being asked how the Kshs 380 million contraband shipments managed to pass through customs officials at Kilindini Port in Mombasa only for officials in Thailand impound them.
“I am shocked that x-ray machines at the port which should have detected them did not.”said Kipng’etich, adding that they would deploy sniffer dogs at all ports and airports.The KWS director also disclosed that they have requested for Kshs 120 million to purchase surveillance equipment.
According to the Minister’s report, the illegal exportation of the tusks was made easy at the Kilindini Customs, Export section because officials do not maintain dispatch register. Laxity of th Kilindini Customs, Export Processing and Verification officers facilitated the exportation of the prohibited cargo, adds the provisional report on the investigations.
The report shows elephant poaching has been on the rise from 2003, with the number now reaching 844.
According to the report, on March 31,this year, Thailand Customs officials intercepted 247 elephant tusks weighing 2,033 kilogram’s that had been shipment from Kenya.
In 2003, the numbers of 57 elephants were poached 63 in 2004, then 70 in 2005.The number went down to 55 in 2006 and 47 in 2007.
But in 2008, the number rose to 91 and in 2009 to 204. Last year, the number went to 187 while in the first four months of this year, the number of elephants so far poached is 70.
KWS has succeeded in arresting 496 in the last eight years with 10,552 kilograms of ivory having been recovered.
Ends