Kibera court sentences man to 9 years for wildlife crimes

Kibera Law Courts has sentenced a man to nine years in prison after finding him guilty of multiple wildlife-related offences, including the illegal export of wildlife specimens and forging official permits.

The conviction was secured by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. Principal Magistrate Margaret Murage handed down the sentence after the court found the man guilty of attempting to export wildlife items using forged documentation.

“The court imposed a total custodial sentence of nine years after establishing that the accused had engaged in illegal wildlife trade activities and falsified official wildlife permits to facilitate the export,” the DPP said.

During sentencing, the magistrate noted the complexity of the case and praised the prosecution team for pursuing it despite several delays over the years.

“The court acknowledged the complex nature of the case and commended the determined efforts of the prosecution in bringing the accused to justice after actions that delayed the case from 2019 up until 2024, when the first witness took the stand,” the DPP stated.

The magistrate also observed that the matter was among the oldest pending before the court, having been filed in 2019.

Investigations revealed international links, prompting cooperation between Kenyan authorities and counterparts in the United States.

The US authorities initiated the probe through a Mutual Legal Assistance request after arresting an accomplice connected to the illegal wildlife trade network. Kenyan authorities subsequently arrested the man locally.

“The investigations were initiated following a Mutual Legal Assistance request from wildlife protection authorities in the United States seeking cooperation from Kenyan authorities after an accomplice was arrested there,” the prosecution said.

Through coordinated efforts involving the Kenya Wildlife Service and the ODPP, the man was apprehended in Kenya and prosecuted at Kibera Law Courts, while the accomplice faced trial in the United States.

Evidence presented in court showed he had forged a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) import licence to facilitate the re-export of wildlife items from Kenya to the US. The specimens involved included northern deer parts, elk specimens, and peacock feathers.

Prosecutors also told the court that he forged Kenya Wildlife Service revenue stamps on import and export permits to support the shipments and exported wildlife specimens without a valid permit.

The court held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt despite the lengthy proceedings.

The DPP said the conviction underscores its commitment to tackling wildlife crime and strengthening international cooperation in protecting endangered species and wildlife resources.