Tana River: Two men plead guilty to poaching
At the Garsen Law Courts in Tana River on Friday, September 23, two middle-aged men pled guilty to poaching in violation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013.
The two who appeared before Justice Eugine Kadima were apprehended by Kenya Wildlife Service officers on September 22 at 8am while transporting 120 dik dik carcasses weighing about 33.8 kilograms, two dead Gerenuks weighing about 25.35 kilograms, one dead porcupine weighing about 3.35 kilograms, one dead sand grouse bird and one dead jar bird both weighing about 0.50 kilograms, and 6.70 kilograms of matumbo.
The charges against Kazungu Kapombe Katana, 29, and Tuva Chengo Tuva, 33, included two counts of engaging in unlawful trade and poaching Dik Dik antelopes and other wildlife.
They were also charged with one account of killing wildlife animals without explicit permission from the Kenya Wildlife Service Director General.
According to the law, “Any individual who keeps, is found in possession of, deals in, or makes any item from a wildlife trophy without a permit” is subject to a fine or imprisonment.
The same court last year sentenced three men to 15 years in prison each for poaching. In its ruling, the court also imposed a fine of KSh3 million for each of the men on three accounts.
Sharif Ngala (39), Kingi Charo (25), and Baraka Thoya (20) pleaded guilty to poaching 140 dik-diks, three teramuks, and porcupine meat before senior principal magistrate Paul Rotich.
Last year, KWS stated the country had recorded a near 96 percent decline in poaching, with more than 386 elephants being lost to poaching in 2013 compared to 11 elephants poached in 2020.
The sentencing of the two is set for September 27.