Two Burundian nationals charged over Sh12 million ivory haul in Mombasa
The accused, Gakiza Sulemani and Nkunubumwe Celecius, appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, where they faced charges relating to the unlawful dealing in and possession of wildlife trophies without a valid permit.
Two Burundian nationals have been charged in a Mombasa court with allegedly possessing and attempting to trade in elephant tusks worth over Sh12 million, in contravention of Kenya’s wildlife protection laws.
The accused, Gakiza Sulemani and Nkunubumwe Celecius, appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo, where they faced charges relating to the unlawful dealing in and possession of wildlife trophies without a valid permit.
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According to the charge sheet, the two men were found with 27 pieces of elephant tusks weighing approximately 62.85 kilogrammes. The ivory, classified as a trophy from an endangered species under Kenyan law, is valued at Sh12,570,000.
Prosecutors told the court that the duo was arrested on August 3, 2025, at around 3 pm in the Miritini area of Mombasa County. The arrest followed a tip-off that led Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers to the location, where the suspects were allegedly seeking potential buyers for the tusks.
They now face two counts: trading in wildlife trophies and possession of trophies from a protected species, both contrary to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013. The accused denied the charges.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo requested the court to impose stringent bail conditions, citing the flight risk posed by the accused, as they are foreign nationals. She also urged that any sureties offered should provide assurances that the suspects would not abscond.
Magistrate Odhiambo granted each of the accused a bond of Sh4 million with a surety of the same amount. He further ordered the suspects to surrender their passports and provide two Kenyan contacts to support their release terms.
The case is scheduled for mention on August 20, 2025.
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