Today’s Court Update
#30. November 20th, 2025 (Hearing): The scheduled hearing did not take place. Instead, the prosecutor withdrew the charges against all accused before Hon. Gideon Kiage.
SEEJ-AFRICA was not in attendance and does not know why the charges were dropped. An anonymous source reported that it was due to lack of evidence. The judiciary’s public E-Filing system that tracks case progress, does appear to indicate that there was minimal witness testimony over the 30 sittings.
Considering the status of the three accused, it is possible that the KWS witnesses were instructed not to attend.
Case Overview
On June 15th, 2024, KWS officers had information on a vehicle travelling from the Eldoret area with ivory. The vehicle, a Subaru Legacy KAZ 604W, was put under surveillance. In the area of the Kitengela, Kajiado County, the vehicle was stopped and searched and found to contain 5 tusks weighing 29 kg. The occupants, three police officers and a civilian were arrested. Two loaded hand guns were also seized, presumed to be police service weapons.
It was reported from different sources that one of the officers was from the Presidential Escort Unit, another as escort for a senior politician from Eldoret and the third attached to Milimani court as a driver.
The suspects are said to have drawn their pistols during their arrest but were subdued.
Presiding Magistrate and Court: Hon. Gideon Kiage – Principal Magistrate Court 2 | |
State Counsel: Wachira Jillo Guyo | Advocates for the Accused: Mr. Mugo – A#1 an A#2 Mr. Kyule – A#3 Ms.Mureithi – A#4 |
Accused: Richard Kipleting Kuto (APC) Ben Kipkosgei Kiplangat (Cpl) Charles Nzuki Mutua Philip Lubanga Adembe (APC) | |
Charges:
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Date of Arrest: 2024-06-15 | Date of Arraignment: 2024-06-19 |
Location of Arrest: Kitengela, Kajiado County | Contraband Seized: 29 kg (5 pieces) |
PROCEEDINGS
#09. September 4th, 2024 (Mention): The court has set a mention date of October 8th. Court 2 was not sitting today as Hon. Kiage was on leave.
#06. July 24th, 2024 (Mention):
#05. July 22nd, 2024 (Mention): All relevant persons present although all defence counsel were appearing virtually.
The IO was absent and Mr. Wachira requested for two more days for the documents to be supplied. Hon. Kiage also requested the defence council to collect their documents from the DCI.
Mr.Kyule requested the accused to appear virtual which Mr. Wachira denied since they can’t appear virtual for pre trial and also they should appear in court to collect their documents.
The court set July 24th for pre-trial.
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#04. July 5th, 2024 (Hearing of Application): The matter was coming up for hearing of application which the defence counsel had raised. The defence and accused were absent in court. Prosecution noted that some documents pertaining to the application were yet to be served to them and KWS. Prosecution also noted that matter had a mention date on 22nd July 2024 so they can follow that up and get status by that date. Next mention date set by the court for July 22nd.
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#03. July 2nd, 2024 (Ruling): Court records indicate a ruling was given. The matter was adjourned to July 5th for hearing of applications.
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#02. June 28th, 2024 (Mention): A ruling date of July 2nd was given.
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#01. June 19th, 2024 (Plea): The four accused were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. June 28th set for mention.
Three police officers arrested with elephant tusks worth Sh2.5 million
Peterson Githaiga ,The Sunday Standard
June 15, 2024
See link for photo.
Police in Kitengela, Kajiado county have arrested three police officers and one civilian who were allegedly found in possession of elephant tusks worth Sh2.5 million.
In a dramatic chase, the suspects were cornered in Kitengela town a few meters from the police station along the Nairobi-Namanga road.
Isinya Police boss Patric Manyasi confirmed the arrest adding that the suspects were on the Kenya Wildlife Services officers’ radar who aided their arrest.
The suspects were trailed from Eldoret to Nairobi, and later to Kitengela where the arrest took place. Two pistols and 30 bullets were also recovered.
Three police officers arrested in Kitengela, elephant tusks, guns recovered
By Wananchi Reporter Published on: June 15, 2024 06:49 (EAT)
By Jemimah Kiarie
Three police officers and a civilian were on Saturday arrested in Kitangela after they were reportedly found in possession of five elephant tusks, two pistols and 30 bullets.
OCPD Kingela Patrick Manyasi confirmed the incident.
The four were arrested by officers attached to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) at a roadblock in Kitengela.
KWS officers had trailed the suspects all the way from Eldoret before their dramatic arrest in Kitengela. The arrest followed a tip off.
The suspects were driving in an old Subaru vehicle, registration number KAZ 604, when they were arrested. The suspects are said to have drawn their pistols during their arrest, in what witnesses likened to a movie.
The suspects have been identified as Richard Kipleting, a police constable, Philip Lupanga, a police constable attached to Judiciary Milimani as a driver, Ben Kiplang’at Koskei attached to a senior politician from Eldoret, and Charles Nzuki, a civilian.
The five tusks are said to weigh 29 kilograms, all worth Ksh. 2.9 million. The suspects were taken to Kitengela Police Station before being transferred to KSW holding in Lang’ata.
