Mention the police force and what immediately springs to mind is corruption. Indeed, Transparency International in a recent report rated it as the most corrupt institution in Kenya.
Worse still are officers in the Traffic Department who have been filmed taking bribes from drivers who flout road safety regulations.
However, one officer at Ntulele Police Station in Narok County has gone against the grain and stood out in the force by doing the unimaginable. Corporal David Chumo has on several occasions turned down bribes offered by drivers ferrying forest and wildlife products illegally.
In January last year, Chumo arrested a matatu driver ferrying giraffe meat weighing approximately 840kg that was destined for Nairobi. The driver tried to bribe him with Sh30,000 but Chumo turned down the offer and arrested him.
WAR ON POACHING
In July 29 last year, the officer arrested a mantransporting charcoal without a permit and fined him Sh50,000. The charcoal was then forfeited to the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
“On September 5 and 7 last year, he arrested five people ferrying charcoal. On December 9 the same year, two people were again nabbed with charcoal and finally on January 9 this year, Chumo arrested four others and fined them Sh50,000 each,” said Narok County Ecosystem Conservator James Mburu
Early last year, the same officer was commended by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for his efforts to fight poaching and trade in game meat in world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Chumo, who refused to take a Sh60,000 bribe intercepted 6,000kg of giraffe meat and arrested a suspect.
The game meat, which was destined to Burma Market in Nairobi from Masai Mara was seized at Siyaibei area along the busy Narok-Mai Mahiu Highway.
Chumo said he is disturbed by the rate of environmental degradation and will do everything possible to reverse the trend. He noted that he grew up seeing clean Mara water meander its way downstream but that has now become a dream.
TOURISM THREATENED
“Nowadays when I go home, I see an almost dry riverbed and dirty water that is not good for human or wildlife use. I fear if we allow the destruction to go on, we will lose our rivers and wild animals,” said Chumo.
The officer called on all Kenyans to conserve the environment and wildlife.
He warned that poaching is a great threat to tourism, which is one of Kenya’s highest foreign exchange earners.
“I want to leave a legacy of patriotism in the force. I want to hear that people want to emulate me. This is what gives me the passion,” he said when The Standard met him at Ntulele.
And his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Early this month, KFS and KWS commended him for his efforts to conserve the environment and protect Mau Forest and the wildlife.
According to Mburu, Corporal Chumo has in the recent past assisted in impounding charcoal that was destined to Nairobi.
“Chumo has assisted to arrest a number of lorries transporting forest products illegally, secured court fines and forfeited trailers to KFS,” said Mburu in a letter sent to the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.
Mburu appreciated the good cooperation between Kenya Police and KFS in conserving the environment and fighting poaching.
“KFS wishes to extend congratulations to the officer for dedication to serve this nation and guard our national heritage. His dedication has contributed greatly towards conservation of Mau Forest and this officer should be rewarded for these achievements,” said Mburu.
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