The Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) has intensified calls for justice following the killing of Issack Jarso Delo, an elder allegedly shot by a Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) officer on December 29, 2024.
Led by CPG Secretary-General and Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza, the legislators marched to KWS offices in Mombasa to present a protest letter. They condemned the killing and demanded expedited investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Eyewitness accounts indicate Delo was killed at his homestead in Yakaliche Village, Garsen Constituency, contradicting KWS’s claim that the incident occurred within Tsavo East National Park. The MPs blamed the recurring human-wildlife conflict on the lack of grazing corridors and called on the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to act swiftly.
“It is unacceptable that herders are harassed while seeking pasture and water. Livestock is a critical resource for our people,” said Tandaza, accusing KWS of defying President William Ruto’s directive to establish grazing corridors.
Tandaza criticized the DCI for delays, emphasizing that witnesses had already recorded statements. He also cited a similar unresolved case in Kwale, where the officer involved was merely interdicted.
Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki defended Garsen MP Ali Wario against accusations of incitement, arguing that Wario was addressing his constituents’ grievances. KWS had earlier accused Wario of urging the community to invade park land illegally.
In response, the DCI confiscated 23 firearms from KWS for ballistic examination, but Faki insisted the officer involved must face justice. Wario vowed to continue advocating for his constituents, stating, “If addressing these issues is considered incitement, so be it.”
Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba urged KWS to use firearms only against poachers, not herders. “If stray elephants can be sedated and returned to the park, why should human lives be lost?” he questioned.
KWS Senior Warden Vincent Ongwae promised a professional resolution, adding, “We are committed to fostering harmonious coexistence and building resilient ecosystems.”
The legislators pledged to monitor the case to ensure justice for the deceased’s family.
