Two suspected poachers were Wednesday shot and killed and more than 70 kilos of giraffe meat recovered from them in a shootout in Wajir county.
Kenya Wildlife Service rangers said they on Wednesday received information some people were supplying suspected giraffe game meat at Barwago location using a saloon car.
Police said the rangers confronted the poachers at Kalkacha sub-location prompting a shootout.
Two men believed to be poachers both aged 27 were fatally injured, while the third suspect who was armed with an AK-47 rifle, managed to escape, police said.
Police who visited the scene said they recovered 10 spent cartridges of 5.56×45mm, two spent cartridges of 7.62×39mm, giraffe meat approximately 70 kilos packed in black polythene paper of approximately 6kg each all placed in a big plastic basin.
The team also recovered three mobile phones and the vehicle the men were using.
The bodies were later released to the relatives for burial as they are from the same area in Wajir East.
Officials say they have intensified war on poachers who are targeting wild animals in the area.
Meanwhile, a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger is admitted in hospital with a gunshot wound after he attempted to die by suicide at their camp in Oldonyiro, Isiolo county.
The official, who is also a driver, became wild after learning he was wanted by his bosses to face a disciplinary action.
Police said he shot 13 rounds from his FN rifle and later directed the weapon to his neck in the Wednesday morning incident
According to police, he injured himself in the right side of the neck and was found lying on the floor of the office in a pool of blood. He was disarmed and rushed to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Nanyuki for treatment.
Officials said his bosses from KWS headquarters were headed to the camp to pick him up for a disciplinary action.
Police say the ranger will face criminal charges of attempting suicide and misusing his weapon once he recovers.
