By Eddah Waithaka
Authorities today charged two Burundian nationals in a Mombasa court for illegally possessing and trading in wildlife trophies, violating Kenya’s strict wildlife conservation laws.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers arrested Gakiza Sulemani and Nkunubumwe Celecius on August 3, 2025, in Miritini after an intelligence-led operation uncovered their involvement in the illegal ivory trade.
The suspects were reportedly searching for buyers when law enforcement intercepted them.
Prosecutors presented evidence before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, revealing that the pair had 27 elephant tusks weighing 62.85 kilograms, valued at KES 12.57 million.
The tusks, classified as endangered species trophies, were in their possession without the required permits.
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The prosecution charged the suspects under Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, for dealing in and possessing illegal wildlife trophies. Both pleaded not guilty.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo pushed for stringent bond terms, arguing that the accused might flee if released on lenient conditions.
Magistrate Odhiambo granted each suspect a KES 4 million bond with one surety and ordered them to surrender their passports.
They must also provide two Kenyan contacts to ensure court compliance. The court set the next mention for August 20, 2025.
This case underscores Kenya’s intensified crackdown on wildlife trafficking, particularly the illegal ivory trade fueling poaching across Africa.
KWS continues to collaborate with international agencies to dismantle trafficking networks threatening endangered species.
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