Four suspects have been arrested in Kakuma town after they were caught transporting 9.2 kilograms of elephant ivory. The arrest was executed during a coordinated joint operation conducted by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers and detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The suspects were intercepted on Wednesday morning at around 10:00 a.m. while ferrying four pieces of ivory on a motorcycle. Authorities have identified them as Albert Eroo and Losoru Ekutani both residents of Turkana alongside two Burundian nationals residing at the Kakuma Refugee Camp.
The recovered tusks have been secured to be used as exhibits in court. Meanwhile, the four suspects remain in custody at the Kakuma Police Station as investigators finalize the case file ahead of formal charges.
Confirming the incident, KWS Turkana Assistant Director Elijah Chege commended local residents, noting that the successful bust was made possible through a tip-off from the public. He praised the community’s vigilance and emphasized that public cooperation remains a cornerstone of the fight against wildlife crime.
“This operation demonstrates the importance of community partnership in protecting Kenya’s wildlife. We encourage members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activities involving wildlife products,” Chege said.
This successful crackdown marks another critical step in ongoing efforts by KWS and regional security agencies to dismantle syndicates trafficking illegal wildlife parts through Turkana County. Despite heavy penalties and strictly enforced conservation laws, elephant ivory continues to attract black-market demand. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected wildlife crimes to the nearest law enforcement officers.
