Reuben Mwambingu @reubenmwambingu
Five Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers accused of receiving bribes to aid a suspected poacher escape, could be arrested after a Mpeketoni law court ordered a probe.
Mpeketoni Resident magistrate Pascal Nabwana, ordered investigations into the five officers Moses Otieno, Simon Ruvungu Changaba, Hamid Noor Mohammed, Simon Changara and Moses Oloo for releasing the suspect who was reportedly in possession of bushmeat.
Accused account
The officers are alleged to have arrested Dena Furaha Kazungu to substitute him with the culprit. However, Kazungu, whose charges have since been withdrawn, gave a blow-by-blow account implicating the wildlife officers in corruption to let the poacher go scot-free.
Kazungu told court how he ended up being arrested after a bucket containing porcupine meat was found dropped within his compound by a suspect identified only as Kamande, who was at the time being sought by the officers.
“It is quite disturbing to note that officers mandated to protect wildlife can be implicated in allegations of corruption and letting suspected poachers free. If KWS officers can be involved in aiding poachers to escape justice, then our bid to conserve environment has failed,” the magistrate said.
He directed Mpeketoni OCS to assist in arresting Kamande and assured the accused security will be guaranteed.
