Security officials in Kilifi County have arrested two suspects transporting elephant tusks, highlighting ongoing concerns about wildlife poaching in Kenya. The two men were apprehended on March 24, 2025, while riding a motorcycle in the Marikebuni area of Gongoni, Magarini.
According to officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the suspects had concealed a green sack on the motorcycle, which was later found to contain a 10-kilogram ivory tusk with an estimated street value of Ksh1 million. The duo was intercepted before they could deliver the illegal cargo to a potential buyer in the area.
Following their arrest, the suspects were escorted to the police station and are expected to face charges of being in possession of wildlife trophies of endangered species, contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013. The motorcycle and the ivory tusk were seized as evidence.
Officials suspect that the tusk came from an elephant killed in the region, with further investigations underway to determine the source and any possible connections to a larger poaching network. Despite stringent measures, the illegal trade in elephant tusks remains a significant challenge in Kenya and across Africa.
The demand for ivory in the black market, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, continues to drive elephant poaching. Despite an international ban on the ivory trade, African elephants are still being killed for their tusks, fueling conservation concerns.
Kenya has implemented various strategies to combat poaching, including the deployment of high-tech surveillance such as drones to monitor wildlife and track poachers. Additionally, KWS, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has intensified community education, intelligence-led operations, and inter-agency partnerships to curb wildlife crime.
These concerted efforts have led to significant milestones, including the historic achievement of zero rhino poaching in Kenya in 2020—the first time in nearly two decades. In a bold statement against illegal ivory trade, Kenya burned 105 tonnes of elephant ivory and 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn in April 2016.
Despite these measures, Kenya remains a critical transit route for smuggled ivory destined for Asian markets. Authorities continue to enforce strict anti-poaching laws and bolster security at national parks to safeguard the country’s rich wildlife heritage.
