Former Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) board chair Richard Leakey has revealed details that have faulted Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala over the death of 10 rhinos.
In a press statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Leakey blamed the CS for not establishing solid structures before an authorisation was made to approve the translocation of the 11 rhinos to Tsavo East National Park.
He divulged: "During the life of the Board (that he chaired for three years,) the issue of the Tsavo rhino translocation came up 3 times over 3 years and on each occasion, the board noted that there was deep concern about the lack of vegetation in the sanctuary that could sustain rhino.
[caption caption="Former KWS Chairman Richard Leakey"]
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"Also the real issue of available and safe water.
"The board directed that NO translocation should occur unless these two matters were adequately addressed to the board's satisfaction," he explained.
Leakey also questioned the CS for alleging that there is a board in the service yet according to his knowledge, KWS doesn't have any board.
"As of today and this statement, I am unaware of a new Board and unaware that if there is one, as Balala implied in his press briefing yesterday," Leakey wondered.
The former chair further expressed his regret that the CS's statement "failed to reflect the fundamentals behind this tragedy and perhaps thus dig deeper into the real problems at KWS."
On Thursday, CS Balala suspended six KWS officials whom he faulted for the death of the rhinos following the findings of a report after investigations were carried out into the unprecedented deaths of the rhinos.
The CS then fired acting Director General Julius Kimani who was replaced by Charles Musyoki.
