Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for possessing endangered wildlife trophies after a court in Malindi found them guilty of the offence.
Senior Principal Magistrate Joy Shiundu Wesonga convicted Nzai Kazungu Nzai and Nzai Ruwa Kapombe 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.
The court sentenced each convict to pay a fine of Ksh. 20 million, with life imprisonment as the alternative sentence in default of payment.
In her judgment, Magistrate Wesonga ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on evidence presented by five witnesses.
The magistrate dismissed the defence presented by the two men, ruling that their arguments did not raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case. She noted that the convicts had failed to produce legal documents authorising them to possess the recovered wildlife trophies.
The case stemmed from an incident on January 17, 2025, when Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers intercepted a motorcycle, registration number KMFP 849U, at Shell Petrol Station near Naivas Supermarket in Malindi.
The motorcycle was carrying the two men, with one riding the motorcycle and the other travelling as a pillion passenger. They were also carrying luggage wrapped in a polythene sheet and secured with nylon straps.
A search conducted in their presence led to the recovery of nine pieces of elephant tusks weighing 5.8 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of Ksh. 580,000.
The officers also recovered one leopard skin and one cheetah skin concealed in the polythene wrapping inside a white and yellow sack.
According to the prosecution, the two men did not have permits authorising them to possess the wildlife trophies.
The court further ordered that the recovered exhibits be handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service for safe custody or destruction in accordance with the law.
The case was prosecuted by prosecution counsel Barack Chirchir and Benjamin Wambua on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The two convicts have 14 days to exercise their right of appeal against the conviction and sentence.
The ruling underscores the legal consequences of possessing protected wildlife trophies without lawful authorisation, as Kenya continues to enforce measures aimed at combating illegal wildlife trade and protecting endangered species.
