A court in Homa Bay has sentenced a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer and two accomplices to seven years in prison each after they were found guilty of dealing in a wildlife trophy. KDF officer Bernard Omondi, along with his two co-accused, was convicted for being in possession of a 2.9-kilogram rhino horn in Rodi Kopany Township, Homa Bay County, on January 1, 2025.
The trio was arrested following a security operation launched after authorities received intelligence from members of the public about suspected illegal wildlife trade in the area. The operation was coordinated by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and regular police units, who stormed a hotel in Rodi Kopany where the suspects were reportedly hiding.
The three men were charged under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, facing two counts relating to dealing in and possessing a wildlife trophy. Homa Bay Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Auka sentenced each accused to seven years in prison for the first count of dealing in a wildlife trophy.
On the second count of possession of a wildlife trophy, each convict was fined Ksh3 million. The court ruled that in case of non-payment, the convicts would serve a default sentence of five years in prison. Magistrate Auka clarified that the sentences would run consecutively, meaning the jail terms would be served separately if the fines are not paid.
In addition, the court ordered the owner of the vehicle used to transport the rhino horn to appear before the court on March 18 to explain why the vehicle should not be forfeited to the state.
Investigators revealed that the suspects were inside a hotel when law enforcement officers stormed the premises, leading to their arrest. This case highlights the government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal wildlife trade and serves as a warning against involvement in activities threatening Kenya’s endangered species.
The conviction emphasizes Kenya’s commitment to upholding wildlife conservation laws and deterring individuals, including security personnel, from engaging in illicit trade of protected species.
