Three police officers and a civilian were arrested in Kitengela on Saturday after being found in possession of five elephant tusks, two pistols, and 30 bullets.
OCPD Kitengela Patrick Manyasi confirmed the incident, stating that the arrests were made by officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) at a roadblock in Kitengela. The suspects had been trailed from Eldoret by KWS officers following a tip-off.
The suspects were driving an old Subaru vehicle with registration number KAZ 604 when they were intercepted. Witnesses described the dramatic arrest as resembling a movie scene, noting that the suspects drew their pistols during the confrontation.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Richard Kipleting, a police constable; Philip Lupanga, a police constable attached to the Judiciary Milimani as a driver; Ben Kiplang’at Koskei, attached to a senior politician from Eldoret; and Charles Nzuki, a civilian.
The five tusks, weighing a total of 29 kilograms, are valued at Ksh. 2.9 million. The suspects were initially taken to Kitengela Police Station before being transferred to KWS holding in Lang’ata.
