Kenya: Threat From Wildlife Slows Head Count
Daniel Nyassy
27 August 2009


Nairobi — Threat from wild animals in parts of Malindi and Magarini districts has disrupted census at night. Some enumerators are said to have lost census materials as they escaped from agitated elephants in Chakama yesterday.The enumerators have been forced to restrict their operation to daytime.

The wild animals, which are hard hit by prolonged drought in Tsavo East National Park, have left their sanctuary in search of water and pasture.

Long distances

The official in charge of census in Malindi and Magarini districts, Ms Pauline Musila, confirmed that night movement by enumerators had been suspended due to the animal menace.

The official further said the exercise was dragging due to inaccessibility by road and long distances between homesteads in the region.

"Elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles on River Galana and hippos have affected the exercise seriously in Dagamra, Chakama, Matolani, Garashi and other far-flung areas," Ms Musila told journalists in her office yesterday.


She also said some people were resisting to be counted as they had not been properly sensitised about the exercise. Ms Musila said.

Despite the challenges, the exercise would go on until all households were reached, she added.

No pay

Ms Musila also dismissed 14 owners of four-wheel vehicles who alleged they had been contracted to transport personnel and material for the exercise. They would not be paid, she stated.

The 14 had camped outside the DC's office on Monday demanding to get fuel and clearance for the job which they claimed they had been contracted through the tendering system.

Kenya: Four Suspected Poachers Caught Red-Handed
Daniel Nyassy
26 August 2009


Nairobi — Greed led four suspected poachers right into the hands of officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service intelligence department.

A fifth suspect slipped out of the officer's dragnet in a Malindi night club as his colleagues were rounded up. The officers had been trailing the suspects for two days from Kurara in Tana Delta district before pouncing on them in a bar where they had gone to seal a deal.

The three were arrested in possession of three leopard skins, one Cerval Cat skin and one python skin all said to have a street value of Sh 155,000.

Malindi Marine Park deputy warden Mr Stephen Kamerino said KWS intelligence department officers trailed the suspects from Tana Delta district following a tip off.

"The officers posed as potential buyers and agreed to pay for the game trophy the following day in Malindi," he said when he briefed the press at the local police station yesterday.


The three were arrested as soon as they displayed their merchandise to the officers in order to receive payment. However, the driver of the car carrying the goods noticed the drama from a distance and abandoned the vehicle, fleeing on foot.

The vehicle, a Toyota saloon KAV 031 A was taken to the police station. Also found in the car were 10 rolls of bhang. Mr Kamerino said there was big market for the game trophies in Malindi from whites who reside there or are on holiday.

"The game trophies usually fetch a higher price from the whites. They buy a leopard skin at Sh70,000 and python skin at Sh 40,000 then export them to Europe," he said adding that KWS officers were on high alert.

The arrest of Mr Ali Said Salim, Mulingi Fitho and Paul Shoka was the second this year, he said. The suspects are expected to appear in court this week.