Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for unlawful possession of endangered wildlife trophies in Malindi.
In a statement, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said the two were convicted by Senior Principal Magistrate Joy Shiundu Wesonga after the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The men were found guilty 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 case.
“The court has considered the defense advanced by the accused persons and finds that it does not raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case. The defense is therefore dismissed, and the accused persons are found guilty as charged,” the magistrate ruled.
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 DPP's statement, one of the men was riding the motorcycle while the other was a pillion passenger.
The 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,” reads the statement.
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.
The DPP said the prosecution called five witnesses to establish its case against the accused.
In her judgment, the magistrate found that the prosecution's evidence 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.
Each man was fined Sh20 million, with the court ordering that they serve life imprisonment in default of payment.
The court further directed that the recovered exhibits be handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service 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.
