Police arrested two suspects in possession of 20 pieces of ivory worth Kes 2.9 million on Sunday evening at Maai-Mahiu in Naivasha.

Confirming the incident, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the suspects, Dismus Omari Mongari, an Administration Police officer (AP) stationed in Suswa in Narok, and Dennis Okinda Atuke, were arrested following intelligence information.

KWS Naivasha Senior Warden Mr. Francis Mutuku Mutisya said the elephant tusks were concealed in two bags ready for transportation to Nairobi.

Further, he said suspects have now been handed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers in Naivasha for further investigations before their arraignment in court.

Mutisya noted that the poaching of wildlife in the country for meat, ivory, and other trophies is an indication that there is a ready market for these trophies.

KWS reported in November 2022 that the wrecking drought had killed 205 jumbos, an endangered species, 512 wildebeests, 381 common zebras, 51 buffalos, 49 Gravy’s zebras, and 12 giraffes in nine months of that year alone.