Kilifi activist Peter Komora faces sentencing following his conviction for possessing wildlife trophies.
Rights organisations question the Kilifi activist’s conviction and urge supporters to attend his November 9 sentencing.
Kilifi land and environmental rights defender Peter Komora faces sentencing on Monday, November 9, 2026, following his conviction for possessing two elephant tusks. Rights groups have challenged the case, alleging that it targets his community advocacy.
In a November 7 statement, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders urged supporters to attend the Kilifi Law Courts proceedings. Its appeal included human rights organisations, civil society groups and other partners.
Peter Komora disputes basis of wildlife case
The Mariakani Law Court convicted Komora on October 29 in a case dating back to 2020. However, the court acquitted him of a separate charge of dealing in wildlife trophies.
Komora maintains that his involvement arose from efforts to apprehend suspected poachers through a sting operation. He says he worked with individuals linked to the Kenya Wildlife Service during that operation.
Meanwhile, the coalition has questioned the prosecution and alleged that fabricated charges sought to punish his community rights work. Komora has spent more than a decade advocating for community land rights and environmental protection in Kilifi.
Groups raise concerns over treatment of defenders
The Environmental Rights Organisation, known as EROG, also criticised the conviction earlier in the week. It described the case as an example of the challenges facing activists who work to protect public resources.
EROG said officers named in the matter did not testify. In addition, it raised concern that an allegation of bribery remained uninvestigated.
The coalition argued that authorities increasingly use criminal proceedings to intimidate and silence land and environmental defenders. It said it had documented more than 50 cases of judicial harassment involving such activists across Kenya over the past year.
Against that backdrop, the coalition called for solidarity with Komora as he awaits sentencing. Its appeal follows criticism from environmental rights organisations over the use of criminal cases against community advocates.
