Police arrest man found with ivory worth Sh5.5m in Kilifi

Mr Changawa Koi Kaisha who was arrested in Kaloleni, Kilifi County, on December 4, 2018 after being found with 55 kilogrammes of ivory. PHOTO | COURTESY

A 53-year-old man was arrested in Kilifi County on Tuesday after he was found with 55 kilogrammes of ivory.

Officers of the Kenya Wildlife Service found Mr Changawa Koi Kaisha in Kaloleni with 11 pieces of the trophies.

SUSTAINED EFFORTS

On its official Twitter handle, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said Mr Kaisha was arrested in a joint operation.

Kilifi County Commander Fredrick Ochieng said the elephant tusks were worth Sh5.5 million.

The KWS and police have stepped up efforts against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in the bid to protect Kenya's key tourist attractions.

The war has seen people arrested and prosecuted across the country but concern remains over cases in which police collude with criminals.

In March, Kenya boosted its war on ivory trade by signing a petition calling on the European Union (EU) to ban ivory trade and close markets.

In a ceremony held in Kasane, Botswana, Environment and Forestry minister Keriako Tobiko signed the petition on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta, joining a list of 32 other African countries.