By Kirimi Murithi
A county ward representative from the Meru County Assembly has proposed the adoption of new laws to prevent poaching of elephants where ivory recovered from the poachers and other dead elephants is sold to traders outside the country and the money gotten used to enhance protection of the animals.
Alfa Chabari who was speaking at the Meru County Assembly said countries in the West Afrcan states have adopted the move and money that is earned from the sale is used for employing youths to guard the poached animals.
“There is no need of burning the ivory recovered from dead and poached elephants like former president Moi did when he destroyed ivory worthy Sh. 60 m and the following day went to borrow a grant of a similar amount. If we sell this ivory we can use the money to employ youth to guard the elephants and ensure none is killed”, said Chabari.
He also called upon the Meru County government to consider giving wards which have natural resources that generate income for the county to be considered and have a certain percentage remain to them for their own development.
Chabari solicited for the creation of a ward development fund to a tune of 15 percent of the county revenue so that the ward representatives can have some autonomy in developing their respective wards.
The Igoji West representative further called upon the county government to adopt an emergency response program which will include at least a maternity ambulance in every ward to reduce the number of maternal deaths at birth.