Crime

Balala Apologizes to Kenyans

31/07/2018
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Tourism CS Najib Balala has apologized to Kenyans over the “go to hell” remarks that he made on Monday. The CS says he was emotional and regrets that he mentioned President’s name in the process.

Mr Balala made the remarks on Monday when he dismissed calls for his resignation following the death of 10 rhinos at Tsavo East National Park.

On Tuesday, he was asked to explain his remarks by Kipkelion East MP Hilary Kosgei.

He said: “I regret that I did that outburst and I highly apologize. I’m being let down by my system that did not act quickly and we lost 10 rhinos. My intention is not to abuse Kenyans… I respect a lot.”

He added: I’m answerable to the people of this country through the legislature and the executive. I was responding to two or three individuals that were too nasty on me regarding the issue of the death of 10.”

Mr Balala had on Monday said those calling for his resignation “can go to hell” adding that he will not be intimidated by their “side shows”.

“In my leadership, I decided that I am going to be right and not nice. On the issue of rhinos, I am going to stand with what is right. Nobody has appointed me; it is President Uhuru Kenyatta who appointed me, so they can go to hell. I can tell them that,” Mr Balala said at Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s office when he paid him a courtesy call.

Mr Balala reiterated that it is President Kenyatta who can decide his fate as “he is the only one who has appointed me here and he knows I have the capacity to run the wildlife docket and nobody is going to intimidate me.”

The rhinos were moved from Nairobi and Lake Nakuru national parks to Tsavo East National Park to start a new population in the area.

An investigation concluded most of the rhinos died after drinking water with a high concentration of salt at their new home. As a result, they suffered from dehydration, upper respiratory tract bacteria and gastric ulcers, Balala said in a statement.
“The high salt levels led to dehydration that triggers thirst mechanism, resulting in excess water intake of the saline water that further exacerbates the problem,” Balala said.
Wildlife officials had conducted water and environment quality assessments at the new park, but the results were not considered before the move, he said.
He blamed the animals’ death on negligence, and poor communication and coordination among the officers involved in the transfer. Several wildlife officials have been suspended over the botched transfer.
With about 5,000 left worldwide, the black rhino is critically endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund. By the end of last year, Kenya had about 745 black rhinos, according to Kenya Wildlife Service.
Through relocation and density management, conservationists hope to increase the growth rate and strengthen the population’s gene pool.

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