Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, issued a fresh directive to interdict all Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers captured in a video assaulting a Kwale resident.
Through a tweet on his official X account, Duale said he appreciated the efforts by KWS to interdict one of the officers but more needed to be done.
He said that from the video, a number of officers were involved in the assault and had to be held accountable, thus directing the interdiction of the rest of the rangers.
“I acknowledge Kenya Forest Services’ (KFS) swift decision to interdict one of the Officers. However, it is clear from the video that more than one ranger was involved. I therefore direct the Chief Conservator of Forests to immediately interdict the rest of the Rangers involved in accordance with established procedures,” he directed.
Duale further condemned the actions of the KWS officers, saying they do not befit the required conduct of government officers.
“In as much as the government is firm in its determination to end all forms of forest crimes including illegal logging, such brutal acts that are clearly a violation of human dignity and rights cannot be condoned,” he emphasised.
Later KWS announced a forest scout who was also involved had been stripped of his duties and would no longer be allowed to access the forest. "Investigations have also revealed that a chairman of a local community group was also involved in the unfortunate incident and going forward, he too becomes persona non grata in the forest," the Service added.
In the video that was widely circulated on social media platforms, a team of officers believed to be KWS rangers were recorded harassing a man by compelling him to entertain them through song and dance.
During the incident, the rangers were heard accusing the man of fetching firewood inside a protected forest located within Lunga Lunga.
“Today is Friday, you should have gone to the mosque to pray but you are here stealing firewood,” commented one of the officers.
Moments later, the officers made the man lie on the ground before a female officer proceeded to strike him severally. The man could be heard groaning as he got whipped.
KWS issued a statement on Tuesday, November 19, condemning the incident while assuring that investigations had already commenced. They also announced the interdiction of one ranger.
“KWS wishes to clarify that it does not condone such behaviour and that the ranger in question has been interdicted,” read part of the statement by KWS urging Kenyans to report any such incidents of harassment, corruption and forest crimes to the nearest police station.
