The Taveta case involved four pangolin scales valued at Sh300,000.
A Taveta court convicted Musa Ngondi of dealing in protected wildlife trophies without a permit after an undercover KWS operation.
A Taveta court has sentenced Musa Ngondi to seven years in prison for dealing in pangolin scales worth Sh300,000. The case followed an undercover Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) operation at a hotel in Taita-Taveta County.
Senior Principal Magistrate Cecilia Kithinji convicted Ngondi of dealing in wildlife trophies from a critically endangered species without lawful authorisation. Prosecutor Charles Mogaka led the case, which the court found proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Tip-off led officers to pangolin scales
The court heard that a member of the public alerted authorities to suspected wildlife dealers at Green Park Hotel in Taveta. The information indicated that individuals at the hotel had scales and were seeking a buyer.
Following the tip-off, KWS officers from the Tsavo West National Park investigation team mounted an operation. They went to the hotel to check the information, with one officer posing as a prospective buyer.
Ngondi later arrived with another man, who subsequently left him at the hotel. The undercover officer then approached Ngondi and asked to inspect the items on offer.
According to the prosecution, Ngondi took the scales from his pocket and showed them to the officer. Nylon paper and a piece of white netting covered the items.
The court heard that the four scales weighed 0.096 grams and had a value of Sh300,000. Officers arrested Ngondi on July 23, 2025, following the operation.
Court grants 14 days to appeal
The prosecution argued that Ngondi had no permit to deal in the wildlife trophies. His offence fell under Section 92(2), read together with Section 105, of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
Kithinji found the evidence sufficient to convict him and imposed the seven-year prison term. However, Ngondi has 14 days to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.
Illegal trade threatens endangered species
The case forms part of wildlife authorities’ and prosecutors’ efforts to tackle illegal trade in protected animal products. Such trade threatens the survival of endangered species.
Pangolins are among the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals. Traffickers seek their scales for use in some traditional medicine practices, despite the lack of established medicinal benefits.
Meanwhile, KWS works with law enforcement agencies and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on wildlife offences. Their work includes investigating and prosecuting illegal possession of, and trade in, protected animal trophies.
