Today’s update
#32. July 3rd, 2024 (Hearing): The next hearing date has been set for October 28th, 2024. This was a demonstration week across the country and it is unknown if the hearing took place. (SEEJ-AFRICA not in attendance)
Overview
The accused were arrested on 19th of September 2020 at Umma University in Kajiado county, with 81 pieces of raw and worked ivory (bangles, necklaces) and a hippo tooth weighing a total of 7.5 kg. The media reported that they were transporting for a government official. Two months later, it was reported that the 1 million shilling cash bail was paid by MP Babu Owino.
Presiding Magistrate and Court: Hon Edgar Kagoni – Principal Magistrate Previous – Hon. Becky Cheloti Mulemia Hon. Jane Kamau Hon. Edwin Mulochi | |
State Counsel: Ms Borr | Accused Advocate: Mr. Korir (A#1) |
Accused: Dennis Maheli Alima David Omolo Ajwala | |
Charges:
| |
Date of Arrest: 2020-09-19 | Date of Arraignment: 2020-09-21 |
Location of Arrest: Near Umma University, Kajiado County | Contraband Seized: 7.5 kg (81 pcs and 1 hippo tooth) |
PROCEEDINGS
#31. June 3rd, 2024 (Hearing): The next hearing date has been set for July 3rd, 2024. (SEEJ-AFRICA not in attendance)
****************************************
#30. April 22nd, 2024 (Hearing): This hearing did not proceed. All relevant persons were present except for the second accused. A warrant of arrest was issued. A mention date has been set for June 3rd.
****************************************
#29. January 21st, 2024 (Hearing): Today’s hearing did not take place. All four prosecution witnesses were unavailable due to an emergency at Entorika. The defence requested of the court that this be the last adjournment due to the length of time this matter has taken. The matter was adjourned to April 22, 2024 for hearing.
This matter has now had 29 sittings in front of four different magistrates over the last 3 1/2 years.
****************************************
#28. October 4th, 2023 (Mention): Both accused were present as was the advocate for A#1, Mr. Korir. The prosecution took a hearing date of January 31st, 2024.
****************************************
#27. September 27th, 2023 (Mention): Both accused were absent but one of the advocates was present but unwell. He requested another date. Adjourned to October 4th for mention.
****************************************
#26 .September 13th, 2023 (Mention):
The accused were present together with the advocate of Denis Maheli. David Omolo (2nd accused) said that his advocate will take directions from the court since he was absent. Next court date 27th September 2023. (This was a first appearance for SEEJ-AFRICA in this matter)
****************************************
#1. July 21st, 2021 (Plea): Both accused were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi and pleaded not guilty.
Boda boda rider arrested ferrying ivory for civil servants in Kajiado
Police in Kajiado have arrested a boda boda rider found in possession of ivory products and elephant tusks with a street value of Sh10 million.
Acting on a tip off, a multi-agency team led by County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) Isaac Meme waylaid the suspect, Dennis Maheli Alina, along the Nairobi- Namanga highway as he was ferrying the trophies on his motorbike to a prospective buyer in Kajiado town.
Meme said upon interrogation, the rider revealed that he frequently transports the trophies for his client from Nairobi where he hands them over to a buyer in Kajiado.
“We managed to arrest the rider and he said he transports the elephant tusks and ivory products frequently for his client from Nairobi to Kajiado. The trophies are then smuggled out of the country for sale in China, Vietnam and Indonesia where there is a huge and ready market for the commodities,” he said.
The CCIO said cases of poaching have been on the increase in the last few months and called on the public to be vigilant and report any suspected cases to the authorities for action to be taken.
The incident comes barely a week after police in Kitengela nabbed two suspects found in possession of ivory worth Sh500,000.
The two suspects; Isaiah Juma Babu, a 66 year old foreign national and Julius Oloo Omolo, a Kenyan, were arrested at a hotel in Kitengela town while they were waiting to hand over the trophies to the buyer. (730/20_KAJ)
Meme said the buyer, who is a senior Government official managed to escape their dragnet and was being sought.
The suspects had cut the ivory into five small pieces and concealed them in a 50 kilograms sack containing maize.
On the same day the two suspects were arrested, police in Enkorika, Nashukuru sub-county intercepted a motorcycle ferrying 300 kilograms of game meat.
The meat suspected to be of zebras, dik diks, giraffes and antelopes was being transported for sale in Kajiado town.
Three suspects ferrying the meat however managed to escape arrest on foot leaving the game meat behind.
Last month, five suspects, including a deputy head teacher of a local primary school, were charged at a Kajiado court with illegal possession of 18kilograms of elephant tasks with a street value of Sh1.8 million.
