Taveta man handed seven-year jail term for trying to sell endangered pangolin scales for Sh300,000

Taveta man handed seven-year jail term for trying to sell endangered pangolin scales for Sh300,000 - A pangolin. A Taveta man has been jailed for seven years after an undercover KWS operation caught him attempting to sell pangolin scales worth Sh300,000. (Photo: KWS)

Musa Ngondi was convicted after an undercover KWS operation caught him attempting to sell pangolin scales worth Sh300,000 without legal authorisation.

A Taveta court has sentenced a man to seven years in prison for attempting to sell pangolin scales worth Sh300,000 following an undercover operation by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers.

Musa Ngondi was convicted of dealing in wildlife trophies from a critically endangered species without a permit or other lawful authorisation.

Taveta Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji handed down the sentence after the prosecution, led by Prosecution Counsel Charles Mogaka, proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard that Ngondi was arrested on July 23, 2025, at Green Park Hotel in Taveta Sub-County, Taita-Taveta County, after KWS officers received a tip-off that individuals at the hotel had pangolin scales and were looking for a buyer.

According to the prosecution, officers from the KWS Tsavo West National Park investigation team organised an undercover operation, with one officer posing as a prospective buyer.

Ngondi allegedly arrived at the hotel with another man, who later left him behind. The undercover officer then approached Ngondi and asked to see the items he was offering for sale.

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The court was told that Ngondi removed four pangolin scales from his pocket and showed them to the officer. The scales had been tied with nylon paper and wrapped in a piece of white netting.

The items weighed 0.096 grams and were valued at Sh300,000.

Ngondi was charged under Section 92(2), as read with Section 105 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, which criminalises dealing in wildlife trophies from protected species without the required authorisation.

The prosecution maintained that the evidence presented in court established Ngondi’s involvement in the illegal wildlife trade.

The magistrate granted Ngondi 14 days to appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.