Authorities Destroy KSh7.8M Sandalwood Consignment in Maralal

Nairobi, Kenya — September 25, 2025

A court-ordered destruction of a large sandalwood consignment valued at KSh7.8 million was carried out at Maralal Police Station under supervision of the judiciary and multiple state agencies. The move comes as part of intensified efforts to curb illegal logging and trafficking of endangered forest species in northern Kenya.

The Latest

• On September 21, 2025, a joint security team seized the haul — 7.8 tonnes of sandalwood — in Ntunyu Village, Samburu County. 

• The destruction was conducted at Maralal Police Station yard under the oversight of Senior Principal Magistrate Sitati Temba. 

• The ceremony was witnessed by representatives from the County Security and Intelligence Committee (CSIC), National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and Kenya Forest Service (KFS). 

• According to a DCI post, the suspects who were arrested in connection with the seizure remain in custody at Maralal GK Prison, having pleaded not guilty.

Context & Significance

• The sandalwood tree (Osyris lanceolata, among other species) is protected in Kenya owing to heavy exploitation and risk of ecosystem damage. 

• Illegal harvest and trade in sandalwood have been persistent challenges in the northern and arid regions of Kenya, especially in counties like Samburu, where traffickers exploit remote forest areas. 

• In 2023, authorities intercepted sandalwood worth about KSh32 million in Samburu, indicating that significant volumes continue to move through illicit networks. 

• Kenya’s laws — including the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (2013) and Forest Conservation and Management Acts — criminalise harvesting or trading of protected tree species without permit, and empower courts to order destruction of illicit stock. 

Legal & Institutional Framework

• The Superior Courts, especially senior magistrates, have jurisdiction to order the destruction of confiscated contraband where a violation is proven.

• KWS, KFS, and the DCI typically collaborate in investigations, seizures, and evidence handling in forest and wildlife crimes.

• Kenya is party to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora); trade in endangered species (including some sandalwood varieties) is regulated under international as well as domestic law. 

Risks, Implications & Challenges

Risks & Challenges

• Traffickers may adapt by fragmenting consignments, using covert routes, or corruption at checkpoints.

• Weak prosecutions or lenient rulings may embolden illegal loggers if courts are perceived to lack follow-through.

• Communities that rely (legally or illegally) on the forest might resist or feel disenfranchised without alternative livelihoods.

Implications

• The public destruction sends a strong message of zero tolerance and reinforces rule of law in environmental protection.

• It may deter smuggling in the short term and bolster the reputation of multi-agency enforcement teams.

• Successful prosecutions, if followed, could help strengthen deterrence.

What We Don’t Know Yet

• The identity and network of the suspects: Are they local traders, international brokers, or part of a larger syndicate?

• The origin of the sandalwood: which forest patches or community forests were harvested.

• How much of the stock value is based on heartwood vs raw logs, and whether further processing was intended.

• Whether the destruction was by burning, crushing, or another approved method.

• Whether the proceeds of fishing (if any) or fines will be recovered and how those will be channelled.

Timeline

• September 21, 2025: Seizure of 7.8 tonnes of sandalwood at Ntunyu Village, Samburu. 

• September 25, 2025 (or shortly thereafter): Court order executed; destruction carried out under judicial supervision. 

What to Watch

• Whether the suspects will be formally charged under wildlife/forest laws and how evidence (chain of custody) is handled.

• If the High Court or appeals courts will review the legality or proportionality of the destruction order.

• Movement in prosecuting other cases of sandalwood trafficking, especially those involving syndicates or state actors.

• Policy and enforcement reforms in forest governance, community engagement, and alternative livelihood programmes in affected regions.