The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has secured a nine-year prison sentence against a man convicted of wildlife-related offences at the Kibera Law Courts.

The case had stretched over several years and carried significant international dimensions.

Peter Omwangala Atepe was sentenced by Principal Magistrate Hon. Margaret Murage after being found guilty of multiple offences, including the illegal exportation of wildlife products and the forgery of official wildlife documentation.

The court acknowledged the complexity of the case and commended the prosecution team, led by Principal Prosecution Counsel Michael Mutune, for its persistence in bringing the accused to justice despite deliberate attempts to derail proceedings dating back to 2019.

The case, which was among the oldest pending before the court, was instituted in 2019 but remained unresolved for years due to its complexity and procedural hurdles.

It was not until 2024 that the first witness finally took the stand.

Investigations were triggered by a Mutual Legal Assistance request from wildlife protection authorities in the United States, which sought Kenya’s cooperation in apprehending Atepe after his accomplice was arrested on American soil.

Through coordinated efforts between the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Office of the DPP, Atepe was tracked down and arrested in Kenya, while his accomplice faced separate prosecution in the United States.

Evidence presented in court established that Atepe had forged a CITES import licence to facilitate the re-export of wildlife products from Kenya to the United States.

The products in question included northern deer products, elk products, and peacock feathers. He was also charged with forging Kenya Wildlife Service revenue stamps on import and export permits, as well as exporting wildlife products without a valid permit.

The court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, notwithstanding the numerous challenges encountered throughout the proceedings.