KWS – Two suspects killed in Wajir were poachers, 70 kilos of giraffe meat recovered
According to Police the Two people killed on Wednesday had more than 70 kilos of giraffe meat recovered from them in a shootout.
Kenya Wildlife Service rangers said they on May 3 received information some people were supplying suspected giraffe game meat at Barwago location using a salon car.
Police said the rangers confronted the poachers at Kalkacha sublocation prompting a shootout.
Two men believed to be poachers both aged 27 were fatally injured, while the third suspect who was armed with an AK47 rifle, managed to escape, police said.
Police who visited the scene said they recovered 10 spent cartridges of 5.56×45mm, two spent cartridges of 7.62×39mm, and giraffe meat of approximately 70 kilos packed in black polythene paper of approximately six kilograms each all placed in a big plastic basin.
The team also recovered three mobile phones and the vehicle the men were using.
The bodies were later released to the relatives for burial as they are from the same area in Wajir East.
Officials say they have intensified the war on poachers who are targeting wild animals in the area.
Meanwhile, a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger is admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound after an attempted suicide at their camp in Oldonyiro, Isiolo.
The official who is also a driver became wild after learning he was wanted by his bosses to face a disciplinary action.
Police said he shot 13 rounds from his FN rifle and later directed the weapon to his neck in the May 3, morning incident.
According to police, he injured himself on the right side of the neck and was found lying on eh floor of the office in a pool of blood.
He was disarmed and rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Nanyuki for treatment.
Officials said his bosses from KWS headquarters were headed to the camp to pick him up for disciplinary action.
Police say the ranger will face criminal charges of attempting suicide and misusing his weapon once he recovers.