Three men were charged today at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport courts for allegedly engaging in the illegal trade of aloe gum valued at Ksh. 15 million.
Prosecution Counsel Paula Rono informed the court that Adan Adaw Abdullah, Ahmed Yusuf Abdurahiman, and Chode Cheme Chode were apprehended on April 13, 2025, at the Merti Junction roadblock, located along the Marsabit-Isiolo Highway in Samburu County.
The trio was found with 15 tons of aloe gum aboard a lorry, but lacked the necessary permits for its transport and trade.
Aloe gum, a substance extracted from the aloe plant, is often harvested illegally and trafficked for its lucrative medicinal and commercial value. Authorities said the trio’s actions violated environmental and trade laws that regulate the harvest and movement of such materials.
The accused men pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku. They were remanded at Industrial Area Prison as the court ordered a pre-bail report ahead of their next court appearance. The case will be mentioned again on May 24, 2025.
The prosecution has warned that Kenya’s increasing aloe gum trade, often unregulated, poses environmental and legal risks.
Authorities have vowed to clamp down on such illicit activities, particularly in regions where wildlife and plant life are vulnerable to exploitation.
