REVENGE KILLINGS OF ELEPHANT SHOCK KENYA
News emerged just now from conservation sources in Nairobi that members of a gang of poachers, allegedly led by one Adan Kanjur, inflicted cruel death on a family of 5 elephant south of Kora National Park in the wider Meru Conservation Area recently, although details were only now becoming public knowledge. Kanjur and other accomplices, who were arrested by Kenyan security, were held on charges of poaching when his alleged gang members still at large went on an elephant killing spree in apparent revenge over their ‘leader’s’ arrest to put pressure on the authorities to release him on bond.
Kenyans were further shocked when it emerged that subsequently, for a bond of only Kenya Shillings 150.000 Kanjur was released, pending trial, causing outrage against not just the alleged culprits – alleged until proven guilty in a competent court of law – but also against the judiciary which according to one truly angry individual ‘are in cahoots with the poachers whom they should keep in custody instead of releasing them back to do more poaching as has often been witnessed of late’.
Conservationists in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the wider region have repeatedly demanded that parliaments stiffen he laws and inflict very heavy fines on those found poaching or those found financing the crimes and then facilitating the exportation of blood ivory and rhino horns, while making sentences of at least 10 years in prison with hard labour the rule, magistrates and judges must apply when sentencing those found guilty. The local Kenyan media will most likely begin to report on the issue in Thursday’s editions, causing yet more outrage amongst conservationists and the tourism fraternity who are expected to then exert maximum pressure on their respective members of parliament to bring amendments to the house for the respective laws on poaching, ivory smuggling and related offenses.
Watch this space as this latest poaching saga evolves in Kenya.
One Response
This is really outrageous and sad! The fines on poachers should be way more heavy and they should not even be allowed a release on bondage!