Kenya: DNA Machine for War on Poaching

Author(s)

By Wambugu Kanyi, The Star

Date Published
THE Kenya Wildlife Service has a new automated nucleic acid machine that will help their forensic lab get evidence to prosecute poachers.
 
KWS spokesman Paul Gathitu said the DNA extraction equipment will be useful for wildlife conservation. This comes two days after two men were arrested in Nyeri county with two rhino horns.
 
Another suspect was arrested in Timau on Tuesday with eight pieces of ivory.
 
Gathitu, who was speaking during a press conference at the Aberdares offices near Mweiga town in Nyeri said: “We are working closely with other security agencies and partners, including the judiciary, to enforce the Wildlife Act.”
 
He said the new law creates space for more community participation in wildlife conservation and management but also has serve penalties for crimes.