Two convicted in elephant tusk trafficking case in Kilifi

Two men were found guilty of possessing an elephant tusk in Kilifi County.

Samuel Kazungu Duka, aged 50, and Nelson Kiringi Nzai, 25, were sentenced by the Kilifi High court to each pay a Sh1 million fines, or, in default, each serve two and a half years’ imprisonment.

Prosecution, led by Winnie Atieno told the court that the two were arrested on September 12, 2023, at around 12:30 p.m. in the Chumani area of Kilifi North Sub-County. Acting on credible intelligence, law enforcement officers intercepted the suspects and discovered an elephant tusk concealed in a yellow nylon sack.

The court heard that the single tusk, weighing approximately five kilograms and valued at Sh500,000, was recovered without any permit or lawful authority.

Elephants are classified as endangered species, and their tusks are strictly protected under Kenyan law due to the continued threat of poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

The accused were charged under Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which criminalizes the possession of wildlife trophies without authorization.

In his judgment, Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki found that Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of both accused persons as charged.

In delivering the sentence, the court affirmed that the recovered tusk constituted a protected wildlife trophy and emphasized that the accused had no permit or lawful justification for its possession.

The ruling marks another significant win for the DPP in the fight against wildlife-related offences, reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to protecting endangered species and deterring illegal trafficking through robust prosecution and deterrent penalties.

Elephant tusks fetch a fortune in the black market as a surge in demand for ivory in the East continues to fuel the illicit trade in elephant tusks, especially from Africa.
Officials say despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers.

The illegal ivory trade is mostly fueled by demand in Asia and the Middle East, where elephant tusks and rhino horns are used to make ornaments and traditional medicines.
As part of efforts to stop the menace, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment, including drones, to track poachers and keep tabs on elephants and rhinos.
Kenya Wildlife Service and stakeholders have put in place mechanisms to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching.