MALINDI, Kenya – Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment after a court in Malindi convicted them of possessing elephant tusks, a leopard skin and a cheetah skin without lawful permits.
Each man was also fined Sh20 million, with the court ordering that they serve life imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Senior Principal Magistrate Joy Shiundu Wesonga found the two guilty after the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The men were convicted of possessing endangered wildlife trophies without a permit or lawful exemption, contrary to Section 92(4), as read with Section 105 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
In her ruling, the magistrate dismissed the defence presented by the accused, finding that it did not raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s evidence.
“The court has considered the defence advanced by the accused persons and finds that it does not raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case. The defence is therefore dismissed, and the accused persons are found guilty as charged,” the magistrate ruled.
KWS Officers Recover Tusks Worth Sh580,000
The court heard that the two men were arrested on January 17, 2025, after Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers intercepted a motorcycle in Malindi.
According to the ODPP, one of the men was riding the motorcycle while the other was travelling as a pillion passenger.
Officers searched luggage wrapped in a polythene sheet and secured with nylon straps, recovering nine pieces of elephant tusks weighing 5.8 kilogrammes.
“Upon search in their presence, KWS officers recovered nine pieces of elephant tusks weighing 5.8 kg with a street value of Sh580,000,” the ODPP said.
The officers also recovered one leopard skin and one cheetah skin concealed inside a white-and-yellow sack.
The court heard that the men did not have permits authorising them to possess the wildlife trophies.
Five Witnesses Testify In Prosecution Case
The ODPP said the prosecution called five witnesses to establish its case against the accused.
In her judgment, Wesonga found that the evidence presented was sufficient to prove the charges against both men beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also found that the accused had failed to produce legal documents authorising their possession of the recovered wildlife trophies.
Following the conviction, each man was fined Sh20 million, with life imprisonment imposed in default of payment.
Wildlife Trophies Handed To KWS
The court directed that the recovered exhibits be handed over to KWS for safe custody or destruction in accordance with the law.
The two men have 14 days to exercise their right of appeal against the court’s decision.
The case underscores the legal consequences of possessing protected wildlife trophies without the required authorisation under Kenya’s wildlife conservation laws.
