Two suspects, including a police officer, have been arrested for illegal possession of wildlife trophies, a serious offense under Kenyan law, in Mwingi, Kitui County.

Hillary Cheruiyot Kipkurui, a police officer attached to CIPU Tseikuru, and Geoffrey Muli were arrested last Sunday (May 12) by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who received a tip off on the illegal activity.

A report filed at Mwingi Police Station indicates that the two were using a Toyota Probox, registration number KDP 694G, to ferry the 10 pieces of elephant tusks. They were arrested at around 1 pm.

The tusks were weighing 89Kg and valued at KSh8,900,000.

The exhibit has been detained at KWS– Mwingi office while the suspects are detained at Mwingi Police Station.

What the law says

According to Section 95 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of the Kenyan law, the two suspects now risk spending five years in jail or pay a fine of KSh1 million, or both.

The act states: “Any person who keeps or is found in possession of a wildlife trophy or deals in a wildlife trophy, or manufactures any item from a trophy without a permit issued under this Act or exempted in accordance with any other provision of this Act, commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than one million shillings or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both such imprisonment and fine.’’