BALALA PRESS BRIEFING

PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. NAJIB BALALA, EGH, CABINET SECRETARY MINISTRY OF TOURISM & WILDLIFE DURING THE RELEASE OF RESULTS OF THE INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO THE DEATHS OF RHINOS TRANSLOCATED FROM NAIROBI AND LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARKS TO TSAVO EAST RHINO SANCTUARY

As I had indicated in my last address to you following the death of nine rhinos translocated from Nairobi and Lake Nakuru National Parks to Tsavo East National Park Rhino Sanctuary in an operation which started exactly one month ago, I established an independent inquiry team to investigate the circumstances that resulted in the loss of these rhinos.

The team’s mandate was to establish the circumstances under which the rhinos died after arriving and being released in the Tsavo East National Park Rhino Sanctuary.

The team included:

1. Mr. Benson Omondi Samson (Assistant Suprentindent of Police, Criminal Investigation and Chairperson of the Inquiry Team); 

2. Prof. Peter Karuri Gathumbi (Professor of Veterinary Pathology, University of Nairobi); 

3. Dr. Kuria Gachungia (Officer in Charge Pathology lab, Directorate of Veterinary Services); 

4. Dr. David Zimmerman (Senior Veterinary Manager, Veterinary Services of SanParks); 

5. Dr. Patrick Omondi (Ag. Director, Research & Innovation, State Department for Wildlife); and

6. Chief Inspector of Police Peter Thiane Kilemi (In charge Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Eastern Bureau.

The loss of the nine rhinos in a protected area arising from an exercise run by Kenya Wildlife Service, with the support of partners, has shocked the Nation, the Global Conservation World and, more importantly, even the KWS staff themselves.

The former Board of Trustees had, for the record, approved the translocation of the rhinos to Tsavo East subject to the timing and monitoring of the water supply for suitability at the time of the translocation.

According to the Inquiry team, the cause of all the deaths was due to multiple stress syndrome intensified by salt poisoning and complicated by the following conditions: dehydration, starvation, proliferation of opportunistic bacteria in upper respiratory tract (Pasteurella species), gastric ulcers and gastritis.

The independent inquiry further showed there were areas of clear negligence that occurred post translocation at the release site in Tsavo, especially in the holding BOMA at the sanctuary. These included poor co-ordination and communication among officers that were responsible for pre-translocation studies, including biomass assessments; environmental impact assessments and water quality assessments. The results of the water assessments were hardly considered before execution of the operation.

The investigators found unacceptable professional negligence among the following officers, who are forthwith suspended pending further disciplinary action to be taken as appropriate by the Board of KWS:

1. Dr. Samuel Kasiki - Deputy Director Biodiversity, Research & Monitoring, whose portfolio includes co-ordinating line departments and providing final advice on best science on management. Poor Co-ordination between various research line departments and its field and HQ staff hampered the proper decision making in execution of this exercise. For example, the Ecological Monitoring Department failed to provide water quality assessment testing results to the Head of Veterinary Services before the final decision on translocation was made. The Species Ecological Monitoring and the Veterinary & Capture Services Department worked in parallel in most instances.

2. Dr. Francis Gakuya - the Head of Veterinary and Capture Services - Chaired the final translocation planning exercise and disregarded the checklist of pre-translocation exercise. He also failed to advise the DG to stop the Nakuru rhino translocation and shows total disregard to the welfare of the animals. He also failed to ensure co-ordination of Veterinary Officers, particularly after the animals were released in Tsavo.

3. Dr. Isaac Leekolol - Head of Capture Services to take responsibility on the improper care of the animals at the holding boma with total disregard of the welfare of the animals.

4. Mr. Felix Mwangangi the Senior Warden Tsavo East to take responsibility for showing total disconnect on this crucial exercise between Tsavo East National Park management and the capture operation team at the sanctuary.

5. Dr. Mohammed Omar - Head of Ecological Monitoring for having failed to provide the salinity level moniting to the translocation planning team.

6. Mr. Fredrick Odock Lala - Senior Scientist Tsavo who was responsible for advising and monitoring of all aspects of suitability of the area.

In consultation with the Chair, I am appointing the following officers to KWS:

1. Dr. Charles Musyoki, who is currently the Principal of the KWS Training Institute, as the acting Director-General with immediate effect.

2. Dr. Patrick Omondi, who is the Director Research, Monitoring and Strategic Initiatives at the State Department of Wildlife and previously Deputy Director of Species Conservation and Management Division, as the acting Director of Biodiversity Division.

3. Mr. Julius Kimani to revert to his previous position as Director of Parks and Reserves.

I also direct the KWS Board to comprehensively examine the general weaknesses in the command and control structure of the organization, which has shown serious anomalies evident from this debacle. In addition, the Board will also review the senior management structure to align clear reporting lines.

I am also direct the Board, through the Chair, to examine the involvement of NGOs and establish clear protocols of engagement.

I, likewise, direct that two temporary positions created by the former Board of Chief Operating Officer and Advisor to the DG be abolished immediately.

-ENDS-