2 arrested in Nyahururu with Ksh5M worth of rare sandalwood
By Aloys Michael, October 26, 2025A multi-agency security team in Nyahururu has apprehended two individuals found transporting sandalwood worth about Ksh5 million.
The operation marks the latest effort in the ongoing crackdown on the illegal trade of protected natural resources.
Also Watch: Machakos residents warned of a syndicate using fake sandalwood oil to con innocent people.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) statement released on Sunday, October 26, 2025, the operation was conducted along the Nyahururu–Rumuruti road after officers received credible intelligence on the suspicious movement of the rare wood.
“Today, a multi-agency security team conducted an intelligence-led operation along the Nyahururu-Rumuruti Road, during which a motor vehicle, registration KAX 049C, was intercepted with two occupants,” the X post read in part.
“Upon searching the vehicle, it was found to be carrying a consignment of endangered sandalwood, weighing approximately 532 kilograms with an estimated street value of KSh 5 million.”
The seized vehicle and the sandalwood are being held as exhibits as investigations continue.
“The two suspects were apprehended and escorted to the police station for processing and further action,” DCI said.
DCI noted that the operation underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to combating environmental crimes and protecting Kenya’s endangered tree species.
Govt on Sandalwood
Sandalwood harvesting was banned in Kenya in 2007 through a presidential directive to allow for regeneration.
Sandalwood is listed as a protected species under Kenyan law due to its high demand in the global perfume and traditional medicine industries.
Conservationists have repeatedly warned that uncontrolled harvesting has pushed the tree to the brink of extinction.
The government banned the harvesting and trade of sandalwood, and the species is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Research by the ENACT organised crime programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed the scale of the illegal sandalwood trade in Kenya, and a complex web of corrupt relationships.
The authority recommendations for interventions at the community, national, and regional levels were made.
‘ENACT helped the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to map the illicit trade, identify key players and trade routes, and show where security services have been infiltrated by organised crime. We got a lot of ideas from ENACT on protecting our sandalwood trees and preventing further loss from the illegal trade,” the report read.