Taita Taveta miners decry mistreatment by KWS

The residents of Kamtonga area in Mwatate Constituency on Saturday demonstrated against mistreatment by Kenya wildlife Service (KWS) officials terming it torture.

The demonstrations have interrupted mining activities and sale of minerals in the area.

According to the residents, miners and charcoal burners are the main victims, sometimes resulting in death while others are shot following allegations of being illegal hunters.

ILLEGAL HUNTERS

“We demand eviction of Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) stations from Tsavo Game Reserve for they are abusive,” one resident said.

They further claimed that the officers know the poachers but they are hesitant to deal with them instead they attack the innocent as they operate in and out of the Tsavo Game Reserve.

This comes months after the locals slammed KWS  over grazing in the Tsavo saying  KWS is allowing illegal herders to graze at the Tsavo West National Park.

The residents said outsiders were let in at the expense of the local community whose land is constantly invaded by wildlife from the park.

"The park has been turned into a ranch by external grazers", said Davison Mwachala, a Bura resident.

By Tom Omulo.