This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
On January 6, 2016, police in Nakuru impounded elephant tusks found in a private car at Pakawa estate. This led to the conviction of three men by an Eldoret Court for selling the tusks.
John Panyako, Evans Chelulei, and Jonathan Kiptanui were each fined Sh1 million or sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of possessing two pieces of elephant tusks weighing five kilograms without a permit from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Eldoret Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, citing evidence that the three men were found with the tusks.
According to the prosecution, the three men were arrested in Kaptuli Area of Eldoret East in Uasin Gishu County while waiting for a contact person to pick up the tusks. KWS Iten Deputy Warden John Ngatia testified that he received information from intelligence officer David Lenaitamani, who posed as a buyer to gather evidence.
"Lenaitamani came to the station with their driver and another intelligence officer. I got to a different motor vehicle accompanied by another officer and followed them back. Lenaitamani and the other officer were to pose as the buyers of the tusks," Ngatia said.
Expert Ester Nguta confirmed that the tusks were from elephants, stating, "The exhibits had some features which were only found in elephant ivory. The exhibits were two pieces from one ivory," she told the court.
