A troubling case has emerged involving a member of the Presidential Escort Unit who stands accused of engaging in the illicit ivory trade.
This officer, whose identity remains undisclosed for legal reasons was apprehended alongside two colleagues and a businessman at a petrol station in Kitengela on Sunday.
The group was allegedly transporting four elephant tusks, weighing approximately 28 kilograms and valued at a staggering Sh2.8 million on the black market. Investigations have revealed that the accused officer leads an affluent lifestyle that appears disproportionate to his constable-level salary.
He owns a nearly completed maisonette and an apartment under construction in the upscale Syokimau area, where plots alone cost between 8 and 10 million shillings, according to local experts.
The construction of these properties has undoubtedly incurred several millions more, raising questions about the source of his wealth. The arrest stems from a tip-off received by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who were informed that a group was transporting ivory from Athi-River to an undisclosed location in Kajiado County.
Swift action led to the apprehension of the suspects. In addition to the elephant tusks, two Ceska pistols with 30 rounds of ammunition were also seized.
Further investigations have implicated two Administration Police officers from the Security of Government Buildings unit and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit as additional suspects. The fourth suspect is a relative of a Mlolongo businessman believed to have connections to poaching and other unlawful activities.
Sources familiar with the KWS investigation suggest that the suspects are part of a larger criminal network involved in the ivory trade within East Africa. Certain well-known government figures including a member of parliament have been implicated in the probe.
Investigators have uncovered a trail of extensive and frequent phone calls between the three police officers, the businessman, and their associates, some of which have been traced back to neighbouring countries like Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the KWS headquarters, forensic analysis is underway to determine the origin of the seized ivory, with officials suspecting it may have come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The National Police Service spokesperson Resila Onyango has confirmed the arrests but declines to provide further details, stating simply, “We have them.”
This case adds to the growing list of law enforcement personnel linked to recent criminal activities, further eroding public trust in the institutions tasked with upholding the law.
Just last week, eight police officers were apprehended in connection with various offences, including armed robbery and extortion.
