Police in Kitengela have arrested two suspects found in possession of 6 kilograms of elephant tusks valued at a street price of Sh500, 000.
Acting on a tip off, a multi-agency team led by County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Isaac Meme nabbed the two suspects; Isaiah Juma Babu, a 66 year old foreign national and Julius Oloo Omolo, a Kenyan, at a hotel in Kitengela town while they were waiting to hand over the trophies to the buyer.
Meme said the buyer, who is a senior Government official, managed to escape their dragnet and was being sought.
The suspects had cut the ivory into five small pieces and concealed them in a 50 kilograms sack containing maize.
“We arrested two suspects, a Kenyan and one foreign national with 6 kgs of ivory. The two ferried the consignment from Migori to Kitengela town concealed inside a maize sack and were preparing to hand them over to a buyer when they were nabbed,” said Meme.
The two will be arraigned at a Kajiado court today.
Elsewhere in Enkorika, Mashuuru sub-county, police intercepted a motorcycle ferrying 300 kilograms of game meat.
The meat suspected to be of zebras, dik diks, giraffes and antelopes was being transported for sale in Kajiado town.
Three suspects ferrying the meat however managed to escape arrest on foot leaving the game meat behind.
Meme said cases of poaching have been on the increase in the last few months, an indication that local butcheries could be selling game meat to unsuspecting consumers.
“In the last three months, we have nabbed 12 motorcycles and 3 vehicles ferrying game meat which indicates that there is a ready market for the meat and residents could be consuming it unsuspectingly,” said the CCIO.
He added that police were investigating incidents of unscrupulous traders poaching and selling snake meat as fish fillet to unsuspecting consumers in urban centres in the county.
By Rop Janet
