Three sentenced as Kenya cracks down on wildlife trafficking

Three suspects have been sentenced, and several others have been charged in a major breakthrough against wildlife trafficking, as the JKIA Law Courts in Nairobi handled three high-profile cases involving elephant tusks, rhino horn, and aloe gum.

In one of the rulings, two men, Moriati Ole Kimore and Lepapa Saruni, were sentenced to five years in prison for illegal possession of four elephant tusks worth KSh 2.49 million.

The duo was arrested in the Ntarara area of Kajiado South on August 28, 2024, while ferrying 24.9 kilograms of ivory on a motorcycle.

Their arrest followed a joint sting operation by a multi-agency serious crimes unit. The court granted them 14 days to appeal the sentence.

In a separate case, the court denied bail to Mohamed Salah Mustafa, who was arrested in Moyale town with 2.6 kilograms of black rhino horn concealed in a woven bag.

Prosecutors opposed his release, citing his unknown residence and flight risk. A pre-bail report will be tabled in court on April 28.

Forensic experts from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed the rhino horn was equivalent to one slaughtered black rhino, a critically endangered species with fewer than 1,000 individuals left in Kenya.

DNA analysis is underway to trace the origin of the horn, and Interpol has been alerted to possible transnational links.

In the third case, three suspects, Adan Adaw Abdullah, Ahmed Yusuf Abdul Rahman and Chonde Cheme Chonde, were charged with trafficking 15 tonnes of aloe gum worth KSh 15 million.

The illegal consignment was intercepted on April 13 at the Merti-Junction roadblock in Samburu County during a police operation. The suspects were released on KSh 500,000 bail each, with their pre-trial set for April 29.

“These rulings mark a strong statement against illegal wildlife trade and environmental crime,” said a KWS spokesperson.

“We urge Kenyans to stay alert and report any suspicious activities through our toll-free hotline.”

The trafficking of wildlife products, including aloe gum, ivory, and rhino horn, is punishable under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act and violates international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Kenya continues to lead the region in tough legal action against wildlife crimes, with authorities promising more coordinated crackdowns in the coming months.