A man has been arrested in Madogo, Tana River county with more than 90 kilogrammes of warthog meat. This comes barely three days after the government warned residents against buying hyena meat being sold as beef.

Madogo chief Mohamed Loka said the man was arrested following a tip-off. He was selling the meat in Mtaa Saba village. "He was selling a kilo of the meat at Sh150 cheaper than beef which retails at Sh420," Loka said.

Garissa county warden Thomas Mailu lauded residents for being vigilant in the fight against the trade in illegal bush meat. Mailu said the trade is economic sabotage as wildlife is an important part of the tourism sector which earns the country billions.

He said the animals face extinction thanks to meat sellers extinction out to make a quick buck.The warden said the meat is health risk as it is uninspected and it may lead diseases such as meningitis, rift valley fever and anthrax.

Residents who spoke to the star said public health officials and police officers work with the bush meat traders to frustrate community efforts to stamp out the illegal business.

"They usually get a percentage of the earnings," Mzee Aden Kosar an elder in Mororo village said. There are no laws on the bush meat trade therefore offenders are let off with a minimal fine.