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Post Reply: LSK Accuses KWS Boss of Shielding Rangers in Abduction Case

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 25, 2025, 7:31 am</div><div id="pl-7220"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7220-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7220-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7220-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has accused Dr. Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), of protecting six rangers charged with the abduction of Brian Odhiambo, a Nakuru fisherman who vanished on January 18, 2025, after his arrest at Lake Nakuru National Park. The allegations, raised during court proceedings, have intensified scrutiny on KWS leadership, compounded by separate claims of a multimillion-shilling tender fraud within the agency. These twin controversies have raised serious questions about accountability and transparency at KWS, an organization tasked with safeguarding Kenya’s natural heritage.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Brian Odhiambo, a fisherman from Nakuru’s Manyani estate, was allegedly arrested by KWS rangers on January 18, 2025, for illegal fishing at Lake Nakuru National Park. According to court testimony, Odhiambo was forcibly taken from his home by rangers, some of whom were in green KWS uniforms, with one carrying a firearm. Witnesses, including Odhiambo’s brother Carlos Otieno, reported seeing four rangers dragging Odhiambo, two holding his hands and two his legs, while kicking him in the stomach and face. Despite extensive searches by his family across mortuaries and hospitals, Odhiambo remains missing, sparking public outcry and protests in Nakuru.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The six rangers charged with abduction to confinement are Senior Sergeant Francis Wachira Gachoki, Abdulrahman Ali Sudi, Isaac Ochieng, Evans Kimaiyo, Michael Wabukala, and Alex Lorogoi. Arrested on May 2, 2025, and released on a free bond, the rangers appeared before Principal Magistrate Kipkurui Kibelion at Nakuru Law Courts on May 5, 2025. The case was deferred to July 14, 2025, due to tensions surrounding the nationwide Saba Saba protests, which prevented witnesses and the accused from attending court.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During a recent hearing, LSK lawyers Kipkoech Ngetich and Abuya Mogendi pressed Lake Nakuru National Park head Emmanuel Koech on why the accused rangers remain on duty despite facing serious criminal charges. Koech defended the decision, arguing that interdicting the rangers could have severe repercussions if they are later cleared, but he failed to produce documents showing arrests made on January 18, 2025. Ngetich accused Koech of shielding the rangers, noting that they are still discharging their duties and are represented by KWS lawyers, suggesting institutional protection. Mogendi further demanded that Koech explain why no efforts have been made to establish the truth about Odhiambo’s disappearance, pointing to a potential culture of impunity within KWS.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Phone records presented in court revealed that four of the accused rangers were at the same location as Odhiambo on the morning of his disappearance, strengthening the case against them. However, Koech’s testimony raised concerns about KWS procedures, as he admitted that rangers may not document cases where suspects “escape” custody, and officers face no consequences if they provide “believable explanations.” This admission has fueled allegations of systemic failures in KWS’s accountability mechanisms.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The case has drawn attention from human rights organizations, with Vocal Africa, led by Executive Director Khalid Hussein, petitioning the Senate to form a special committee to investigate Odhiambo’s disappearance and other alleged atrocities by KWS rangers at Lake Nakuru National Park. The petition, supported by Senators Okiyah Omtatah, Dan Maanzo, and Faki Mohamed, also references the 2022 disappearance of another fisherman, Brian Stingo, under similar circumstances. Vocal Africa highlighted a pattern of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, and torture by KWS rangers, with state authorities allegedly failing to conduct credible investigations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Odhiambo’s wife, Ivy Aoko, expressed anguish over the lack of answers, while David Kuria of the Nakuru Human Rights Network (Nahurinet) and the Independent Medico-Legal Unit welcomed the arrests but emphasized the need for a speedy trial to deliver justice for the family.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Parallel to the abduction case, KWS faces accusations of manipulating a multimillion-shilling tender process, further tarnishing its reputation. The controversy centers on a tender initially valued at Sh710 million, awarded to Britam, but mysteriously inflated to Sh740 million in the final award letter. Jubilee officials identified a fraudulent document used by KWS to disqualify their bid without a fair hearing, despite the tender being officially suspended following their complaint. The issuance of a letter of intent to Britam amid the suspension suggests either gross incompetence or deliberate manipulation, according to critics.</p>
<p dir="ltr">These allegations have placed additional pressure on Dr. Kanga, whose reputation for transparency and ethical governance, built during his tenure at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, is now under scrutiny. The tender scandal, combined with the abduction case, has led to questions about whether KWS prioritizes institutional protection over accountability.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The controversies come at a time when KWS is already grappling with funding constraints and human-wildlife conflict challenges. The agency’s handling of the abduction case and tender fraud allegations will test its commitment to justice and ethical governance. Critics argue that the lack of disciplinary action against the accused rangers and the questionable tender process reflect deeper systemic issues within KWS’s leadership and culture.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The LSK’s accusations have also intensified tensions between legal advocates and state institutions. LSK President Faith Odhiambo has been vocal in condemning state-sponsored abductions and human rights violations, as seen in separate cases involving police actions during protests. The organization’s push for accountability in the Odhiambo case aligns with its broader advocacy against enforced disappearances, with calls for national dialogue and comprehensive strategies to address such violations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the court case progresses, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether these incidents represent isolated failures or systemic problems requiring fundamental reforms at KWS. For now, the disappearance of Brian Odhiambo and the unresolved tender fraud allegations continue to cast a shadow over an agency tasked with protecting Kenya’s natural and human heritage.</p>
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