Two Burundian nationals have been charged in a Mombasa court with illegal possession and trafficking of elephant tusks worth Ksh12.57 million.
The duo, Gakiza Sulemani and Nkunubumwe Celecius appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate, David Odhiambo and denied the charges related to the unlawful handling of wildlife trophies.
The tusks, weighing about 62.85 kilograms, were seized during an intelligence-led operation by Kenya Wildlife Service officers in Miritini, Mombasa County, on August 3.
The court heard the accused had been seeking buyers for the tusks when they were arrested.
They also face a separate charge of possessing wildlife trophies from an endangered species without a permit, contrary to Section 92(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.
The prosecution urged the court to impose strict bond terms, citing flight risk concerns.
Magistrate Odhiambo granted each of the accused a bond of Ksh4 million with one surety and ordered them to surrender their passports.
Additionally, they must provide two Kenyan contract persons as part of their bond conditions.
The case will be mentioned on August 20.
The prosecution said the case forms part of Kenya’s wider crackdown on the illegal ivory trade, which continues to fuel poaching across the region.
