By Andrew Kariuki |
The Garsen Magistrates Court in Tana River County has sentenced two men and a woman to three years in prison after finding them guilty of illegal possession of four elephant tusks valued at Ksh 8 million.
The trio; Faraji Omar Bakari, Abdalla Wachu Mohammed and Ann Abae Hiribae, were convicted following a successful prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to Prosecuting Counsel Collins Oluoch Otieno, the three were arrested on 20th September 2024 at Witu Secondary School Junction in Lamu County while attempting to traffic the tusks, which weighed 87.55 kilograms. Investigators established that the group did not possess a valid permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), as required under wildlife protection laws.
The court handed each of them a three year jail term, though the prosecution has since filed an application seeking a review of the sentence, arguing that the minimum penalty for the offence is five years imprisonment.
In a statement, the DPP’s Wildlife Crime Unit reiterated its commitment to combating the illegal wildlife trade, which continues to threaten Kenya’s endangered species and undermine conservation efforts.
“The Office remains steadfast in ensuring that those who engage in the illegal trade of wildlife trophies face the full force of the law,” the statement read in part.
The conviction underscores Kenya’s ongoing efforts to protect its national heritage and send a strong message against wildlife crimes.
