There was barely a dry eye in the Kwale courtroom last Monday afternoon, June 10th, 2024, when Augustine Odwori Malingo and Nancy Akoth Owino were sentenced by Principal Magistrate Lillian Lewa. They had been found guilty of possession of wildlife trophies that included 4 ivory tusk pieces weighing 500 grammes and 1 hippo tooth weighing a similar amount from their 2019 arrest. In a seemingly cruel choice of words, Magistrate Lewa began her sentencing by telling the two accused she was giving them a non-custodial sentence, thereby giving the two accused and the rest of the court the impression that there was going to be no jail time involved. However, that hope was dashed within seconds when the Honourable Magistrate continued by stating that they were being fined 1 million shillings and in default of payment, would spend 5 years in prison. The fine amount was completely unreachable for both so they would be imprisoned for 5 years. Nancy Akoth, once the realization of the sentence struck home, began sobbing to Magistrate Lewa to please take her children as they were going to become chokoras (street children) or thugs. Akoth’s two oldest boys were in court and once the police started leading their mother away, the younger boy fainted in the doorway of the court striking his head hard on the floor causing momentary unconsciousness. When Akoth saw what had happened, she alos collapsed, crying out as she did so; "Don’t die on me" as she was being dragged towards the holding cell by police. Magistrate Lewa was at this point, in her office, have exited the court immediately on passing the sentence, her last words to the two accused being: "It’s the best I can do".