KDF officer among 3 jailed for being in possession of rhino horn

Bernard Omondi (KDF Officer), George Oloo, and Argwings Watta were found guilty of possessing the rhino horn weighing 2.9kg contrary to the law.

The court heard the three were found in possession of the rhino horn in Rodi Kopany Township within Homa Bay County on January 1, 2025.

They were arrested and charged with two counts in Homa Bay Law Court.

In the first count, they were charged for dealing in a wildlife trophy contrary to Section 92(2) of the WCMA CAP 376.

In count two, they were charged with being in possession of a wildlife trophy contrary to Section 92(4) of the WCMA CAP 376 law of Kenya, both as read with Section 105.

Homa Bay Senior Resident Magistrate Christine Auka found the three guilty of the offences.

For count one, each of them was sentenced to serve imprisonment of seven years.

In count two, each was fined Ksh.3,000,000, but should they fail to raise the fine, they will serve a jail term of five years; the sentences for both counts to run consecutively.

The magistrate further ordered the owner of the vehicle used to ferry rhino horn to appear before the court on March18, 2026, to show cause why the vehicle should not be forfeited to the state.