A popular businessman was arrested on Wednesday afternoon 24 May 2023, with 23 pieces of ivory valued at Sh11 million. Alfred Gathecha, a Sipili Township-based businessman was apprehended in Laikipia County and transported to Rumuruti Police Station.
John Nyoike, the commander of the Laikipia County Police, verified the arrest and stated that the ivory weighed 113.75 kg.
He also said that the elephant tusks had been collected from Churo in Baringo County and were being taken to Mahiga in Laikipia County.
“The officers who made the arrest were tipped off by members of the public and it was easier for the officers to nab the suspect,” he said.
The incident took place, according to the police chief, at a time when poaching was not widely practiced in the nation. He stated they would need to conduct a 24-hour investigation to learn what transpired and the origin of the tusks.
“It is very unfortunate that poachers have killed a total of 12 elephant tusks just to make money. We will investigate and find out where they committed this heinous act,” he said.
According to him, the culprit was about to covertly deliver the tusks to a buyer after concealing them in sacks of corn when he was apprehended by the police officers with keen eyes.
More needed to be done, according to former tourism and wildlife minister Najib Balala in 2022.
“We have the Wildlife Conservation Act, which was enacted in 2013 and carries a penalty of life imprisonment or a fine of US$200,000 for offenders,” he said.
