By Dorothy Musyoka
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has secured the conviction of two men for the illegal possession of four elephant tusks weighing 24.9 kilograms and valued at KSh. 2.49 million.
Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Njeri Thuku of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts sentenced Moriati Ole Kimore and Lepapa Saruni to five years’ imprisonment each after finding them guilty of the serious wildlife crime.
The two were arrested on August 28, 2024, in the Ntarara area of Kajiado South Sub-County.
“Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Njeri Thuku of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Law Courts sentenced Moriati Ole Kimore and Lepapa Saruni to five years’ imprisonment each after they were found guilty of illegally possessing four elephant tusks weighing 24.9 kilograms and valued at KSh. 2.49 million,” confirmed the ODPP.
Acting on intelligence, a multi-agency task force comprising various national security agencies deployed a Serious Crimes Unit to intercept the suspects.
According to the prosecution, the two suspects were apprehended while transporting the ivory on a motorcycle, highlighting the increasingly covert methods employed by wildlife traffickers.
During the trial, Prosecutor Ms. Paula Rono presented compelling evidence that conclusively linked Kimore and Saruni to the illegal possession and transportation of the elephant tusks.
The court found that the Prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.