In Kenya, the enactment of stricter laws and the closure of ivory markets in China have significantly decreased poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking activities. While the Port of Mombasa was once a hotspot for wildlife contraband, improved enforcement measures such as sniffer dogs and multiagency training have made Kenyan ports and airports less attractive to traffickers. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013, with its harsh penalties and expanded KWS functions, has been instrumental in combating wildlife crime.
However, despite these efforts, wildlife trafficking still persists in the region. Traffickers have resorted to using motorcycles and other tactics to evade law enforcement. They exploit porous borders and loopholes in neighboring countries to access ports in Central and West Africa, ultimately reaching black markets in Southeast Asia.
Inadequate pay for rangers and corruption are identified as key challenges in the fight against wildlife crime. With ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement and address these issues, experts remain hopeful that further progress can be made in protecting Kenya’s iconic wildlife species.
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