Kenya Wildlife Service has expressed disappointment with a ruling by a Chuka court after it sentenced three elephant poachers found in possession of 14 pieces of tusks to one-year imprisonment or a fine of Sh1 million.
The KWS Eastern Conservancy Area prosecutor, Mr Dickson Odhiambo has vowed to appeal the Tuesday ruling by Chief Magistrate, John Njoroge.
Mr Odhiambo said according to the law, the minimum sentence for such crime is five-year-imprisonment or a fine of Sh1 million.
“The sentence is too lenient considering the provisions of the law and the magnitude of the crime and that is why we consider appealing in the High court,” said Mr Odhiambo.
The court heard that Mr M’ Andaka Mbiuki, Patrick Muthuri, and Luka Njagi were found with the wildlife trophies weighing 58 kilograms on November 28, 2017 at Lenana hotel next to PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital in Chogoria town.
In the ruling, Mr Njoroge said that the prosecution that lined up four witnesses had tabled enough evidence to prove that the three were guilty of the offence.
He said the prosecution had also given detailed information on the supply chain of the illegal business.
He noted that the court had considered the evidence tabled by the prosecution and the provisions of the law in determining the jail term and the fine.
“The three are first-time offenders, they are of advanced age, they are the sole breadwinners of their families, so, each will pay a fine of Sh1 million or in default be imprisoned for one year,” said Mr Njoroge.
The three have fourteen days to challenge the ruling if not contented.
