The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has dismissed media reports of a man assaulted by their rangers in Nyahururu, Laikipia County.
KFS stated on Tuesday the events of the day and revealed that the man beat up one of the rangers.
The service disclosed that the man was among a group of illegal loggers that had entered a government forest before the encounter with rangers on patrol.
When asked to surrender, the loggers turned violent and assaulted one of the forest rangers before fleeing the scene and escaped arrest. The injured ranger was rushed to the Nyahururu Referral Hospital for medical care.
Following the incident, the rangers launched a manhunt for the suspects.
"The rangers were on patrol when they detected forest destruction when one of the rangers positively identified the man who assaulted him," read part of the statement.
During the arrest, the suspect assaulted one of the arresting officers, and the officer was later taken to Nyahururu Referral Hospital.
According to reports, he developed chest pains and fresh wounds and was transferred to a second hospital for specialised treatment.
"The suspect was released on free bond and is set to appear before the court to take a plea," KFS stated.
According to media reports, the man worked as a caretaker at a nearby farm and the officers ambushed him when he was relaxing at a canteen. He later was hospitalised after being beaten by about 10 rangers.
Reportedly, he was bundled into a vehicle and was taken to a second location where the rangers continued to beat him up.
Hospital records showed the man had head, leg, and back injuries sustained during the incident.
