A Maralal court has directed the destruction of 7.8 tonnes of sandalwood with an approximate value of Ksh7.8 million.

Sandalwood is listed as endangered under United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. Trade in the species is therefore banned worldwide.

Maralal Senior Principal Magistrate Sitati Temba directed the destruction by fire of the haul which was intercepted by a joint security team on September 21, 2025, at Ntutu village in Samburu East Sub-County.

While issuing the ruling, the magistrate underscored that the investigating officer had testified in court and produced the exhibits before the prosecution counsel applied for destruction to avoid it getting back into the black market.

“We have secured the exhibits through photographs, weighing certificate and samples have been taken for analysis. The destruction is to avoid the sandalwood finding its way back to the black market,” he said.

Samburu County Commissioner John Cheruiyot affirmed that the government will continue cracking down on harvesters of illegal sandalwood.

“These illegal activities are mainly carried out in Samburu East and I advise locals to stay away from harvesting sandal wood but instead report any suspicious activities in their area,” he said.

The destruction which was carried out at Maralal Police Station compound was supervised by, Sitati Temba, members of the county Intelligence Committee, National Police Service Officers, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Forest Service.

Meanwhile, two suspects Francis Maina Waweru and Francis Kinuthia Karanja who pleaded not guilty will remain in custody at the Maralal GK Prison as the case proceeds on.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Robert Githu