Economy

Kenya eyes closer ties with Japan in fresh ivory ban bid

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Natural Resources PS Margaret Mwakima during the Cites Cop 17 stakeholders meeting at Panafric Hotel in Nairobi on August 29, 2016. PHOTO | FILE

Kenya has kicked off a fresh campaign for a total ban on ivory trade as officials seek to rally on improved diplomatic relations with Japan.

Kenya is lobbying other countries to defend a clause banning ivory trade in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a call backed for far by 28 African states.

Signs of improved diplomatic relations with Japan were on display at the weekend when the Asian nation, led by its Premier Shinzo Abe, held its sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Nairobi.

Mr Abe and President Uhuru Kenyatta co-chaired the event that also attracted 34 other African heads of state.

“We have resolved that Kenya shall without delay directly engage the Japanese government at the highest possible level to discourage trade in ivory as it creates a reason to kill elephants to satiate the Japanese market now buoyed by Chinese tourist arrivals who mainly target ivory products,” said Kenya Wildlife Service deputy director Patrick Omondi.

Asian states, among them Japan, have been accused of fuelling the trade in illegal ivory and slowing down efforts to protect Africa’s elephants.

Japan is a signatory of the 1989 convention that bans global trade in ivory but allows to register tusks from countries where the trade is legal for one-off sales. Civil society groups have blamed the one-off sales for creating loopholes that poachers exploit.

At a meeting held in Nairobi on Monday to prepare for 17th meeting of conference of parties to the CITES to be held in Johannesburg from September 24 to October 5, participants led by Environment secretary Judi Wakhungu resolved to start sending emissaries to Japan.

“I was with Kenya’s First Lady on Sunday as Japanese First lady Akie Abe shed tears when she fed a baby elephant. She urged the world to take all measures possible to safeguard the elephants from further harm,” said Dr Paula Kahumbu, director at the Wild Direct, a conservation organisation.

READ: Poaching war gets boost after Hong Kong bans ivory trade

The meeting of the Kenyan CITES technical committee said lobbying Japan was aimed at stifling ivory market in Africa, denying dealers a source and an exit point for legally or illegally harvested tusks.

Mr Omondi, who doubles as Kenya’s CITES representative, said the country intends to lobby Japan to gradually end ivory business within its territory just like China and the US did last year.

Kenya, however, expects opposition from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland that have strongly rejected a total ban from 1990.

“A split decision that allows countries in southern Africa to sell ivory while their neighbours are not allowed creates a loophole for trade to thrive,” he said.

On Monday’s sitting also resolved to have Kenya’s government directly lobby European as well as Asian countries that buy ivory saying elephants should be granted Appendix one listing on the CITES’ platform thereby outlawing trade in ivory.