Kenyatta Links E Africa Poaching to Terrorism
According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, increasing cases of poaching and illegal smuggling of ivory in East Africa have been found to happen at the same time as acts of terrorism.

Tanzania: Uhuru - Poaching, Terror Linked
BY MARC NKWAME, 26 MARCH 2014

Arusha — INCREASING cases of wildlife poaching and illegal ivory smuggling in East Africa have been found to go in sync with acts of terrorism in the region.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta stated here that there had been over 68 per cent increase in tusks and ivory shipments heading to the Far East within a period of 12 months with the Kenyan port of Mombasa accounting for over ten tons of such illegal cargo impounded in recent times.

Delivering his State of EAC address in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), President Kenyatta, who is also the Chairperson of the EAC Heads of States Summit, said investigations have revealed that wildlife poaching and ivory smuggling were intertwined with acts of terrorism that have so far resulted in a series of attacks in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

"The money gained from the callous business is usually directed into funding terrorism, which means now the war against poaching should be treated as a double-edged sword, which decimates two evils at once," said President Kenyatta, adding that already there were regional efforts to address the situation.

"Terrorism is a serious threat to our community; the racket costs lives, scares investments and fuels cases of poverty and unrest among our people," maintained.

Mr Kenyatta whose country suffered terror attacks at a shopping mall in Nairobi last year, with repeated assaults occurring in Mombasa where six people were killed last weekend.

President Kenyatta also told the regional parliamentarians that the EAC was in the process of coming up with a mechanism that will enable rapid and firm interventions on conflict resolutions in the region.

EALA Speaker, Ms Margaret Nantongo ZZiwa, said the regional legislature was working on special bill on Disaster Management, which is likely to sail before the end of this year. President Kenyatta immediately left for Nairobi by road via Namanga border after the speech.

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