Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured life imprisonment for two Malindi men found in possession of endangered wildlife trophies.

Senior Principal Magistrate Joy Shiundu Wesonga convicted Nzai Kazungu Nzai and Nzai Ruwa Kapombe of being in possession of an endangered wildlife trophy without a permit or lawful exemption.

In her ruling, Ms. Wesonga said the prosecution, which called five witnesses, proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt.

The magistrate ruled that the convict failed to provide legal documents to allow them to be in possession of wildlife trophies.

Court further dismissed the convicts’ defence holding that the same could not dislodge the overwhelming prosecution evidence.

“The court has considered the defense advanced by the accused persons and finds that it does not raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case. The defense is therefore dismissed, and the accused persons are found guilty as charged,” the magistrate ruled.

Court heard that on January 17, 2025, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers intercepted a motorcycle registration number KMFP 849U at Shell Petrol Station near Naivas Supermarket in Malindi.

The two men, the rider and a pillion passenger, were carrying luggage wrapped in a polythene sheet and tied with nylon straps.

Upon search in their presence, KWS officers recovered nine pieces of elephant tusks weighing 5.8 kg with a street value of Sh580,000, one leopard skin, and one cheetah skin concealed in the polythene sheet inside a white and yellow sack.

The court heard that the two did not have any permits allowing them to be in possession of the wildlife trophies.

In her judgment, Ms. Wesonga found that the prosecution had established its case against the two beyond reasonable doubt.

The court sentenced each convict to pay a fine of Sh20 million in default to serve life imprisonment.

The court further ordered that the recovered exhibits be handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service for safe custody or destruction as provided by law.

The matter was prosecuted by prosecution counsels Barack Chirchir and Benjamin Wambua.

The convicts have 14 days within which to exercise their right of appeal.