This archive report was first published on 10 December 2019.
On June 21, 2018, a report was made to Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) that an elephant had been killed by villagers in Imenti Forest, Meru County.
Fast forward to last month, a video of the shocking incident was shared widely on social media, with many believing it was a recent occurrence.
However, KWS clarified the incident's age, and authorities have since identified one of the suspects, Kenneth Baabu Muthaura, who was arrested alongside two others.
According to KWS assistant director in charge of Eastern Conservation area, Michael Wanjau, they tracked Muthaura to his home in Meru, where he was positively identified by local elders and relatives as one of the persons in the video.
Wanjau added that they are hunting down 10 other suspects identified from the video.
On Monday, Kenneth Baabu Muthaura was arraigned at the Nanyuki court and charged with killing an elephant without lawful authority.
Appearing before Nanyuki Resident Magistrate Vincent Masivo, the accused denied the charges and was released on a Sh300,000 bond.
The case will be mentioned in January 2020.
