Central to their complaints was that KWS presents ‘sloppy’ cases that lack solid evidence to convict suspected poachers.
Disrespect for laws doubled with the culture of impunity is also blamed for persistent poaching in Kenya.
“It’s impunity whether or not the law exists… the systems don’t work. The systems are corrupted to the extent that it doesn’t matter what the law is. Despite the heavy penalties that are imposed under the new law, you still find KWS able to bring offences for lesser penalties. It is not about the law, it is about those that are charged with the responsibility of enforcing it,” Murgor explained.
It was also a concern that 70 percent of wildlife files have gone missing making it difficult for wildlife suspects to be prosecuted.
According to the conservationists, there needs to be an overhaul of KWS to ensure effective management and pro-active approach that will tackle the problem of poaching.
However, KWS Communications Officer Paul Udoto who found the remarks by the conservationists unpalatable defended KWS with support of a conservationist who said that there should be a consideration that KWS has a skeleton staff in view that it has only 27,000 rangers across the country.
Dr Leakey further wondered why the government had not yet exposed the cartel estimated to be of about 30 people said to be the godfathers of poaching in Kenya.
On March 3, Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko set up a fully-fledged Wildlife Crimes Prosecution Unit which has 35 prosecutors.
He also established a committee that will work with KWS to coordinate investigation and prosecution as well as conduct joint trainings to strengthen the war against poaching.
According to the conservationists, the unit will contribute positively in ensuring that KWS gathers adequate evidence for prosecution of wildlife crimes.
Plans to establish the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Kenya is another positive gesture that will contribute positively since poaching is one of the transnational crimes it will handle.
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