Authorities have arrested two suspects in Kavuvwani village, Mwingi Central Subcounty, after they were found in possession of three pieces of elephant tusks. The arrests were made during a joint operation by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and local police.
According to a statement released by the DCI on Thursday, the operation was conducted following credible intelligence that led officials to the suspects’ residence. A thorough search of their house uncovered the illicit wildlife trophies, which have since been detained as exhibits.
“Both suspects are currently in custody at Mwingi Police Station awaiting arraignment,” the DCI confirmed. The two will face charges for being in possession of wildlife trophies of endangered species, an offense under Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013.
This incident is the latest in a series of arrests involving illegal possession and trafficking of elephant tusks in Kenya. On March 14, 2025, three suspected poachers were apprehended in Nkubu, Meru County, while transporting two tusks weighing 60 kilograms. The tusks, valued at KSh6 million, had been hidden in a sack inside a salon car.
Similarly, on July 18, 2025, two more suspects were arrested in Tigania East, Meru County. They were caught at Muriamburi Junction while transporting six tusks weighing 18.5 kilograms, wrapped in four sacks and carried on a motorcycle.
Kenya has maintained a tough stance against poaching. In a powerful statement against wildlife trafficking, the country burned 105 tonnes of ivory and 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn in April 2016. The destruction of the stockpile, led by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, was meant to demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
With increased patrols, stricter laws, and collaborative enforcement efforts, Kenyan authorities continue to dismantle networks involved in the illegal wildlife trade. These efforts are critical to safeguarding the country’s rich biodiversity and supporting the tourism industry, which depends heavily on thriving wildlife populations.
