President Uhuru Kenyatta has yet again come under scathing attack following his decision to burn thousands of ivory in an exercise meant to show the government’s commitment in the fight against poaching.
Nominated Senator Janet Ong’era on Monday termed Saturday’s exercise as a ‘PR campaign’ with little impact on the vice.
She accused the president of dancing to the tunes of the perpetrators and questioned the government’s commitment in fighting the crime that has seen the country lose several elephants and rhinos.
“I am disappointed that the government could collect ivory and stage manage it for burning. It was just a mere PR exercise that has no impact in fighting the crime and they know that,” she said.
“We expected those responsible for the illegal crime to be arraigned in court and charged because we have legal framework on the same. We wanted to know how many people have been arrested in connection with the same and not how many ivories have been burnt,” said the former ODM chief executive.
She also said the ivory should have been sold and the returns used in conducting civic education and paying Kenya Wildlife Service officers as a mean of motivation.
“They should have sold the ivory and used the returns in conducting civic education on anti-poaching and payment of wildlife officers who dedicates their time in looking after this beauty in our nation. I honestly feel they should be motivated,” she said.