Three suspects among them a man and his wife were arraigned at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on Monday for allegedly trying to smuggle ants out of the country.
Martin Nyota, his wife Rose Wairimu and Eunice Muthoni, an employee of postal corporation, were accused of trying to export the harvester ants worth Sh300,000 to China and France without the authority of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The couple, who were arrested at their home in Gilgil, Nakuru County, pleaded not guilty to five charges of dealing with live wildlife species.
The State prosecutor urged Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku to prioritise the hearing of the case since the lives of the ants produced in court are at stake.
The ants are meant to be released to the National Museum of Kenya for research, the state said.
It was not immediately clear what the ants were being exported for.
Muthoni and Wairimu were released on Sh50,000 cash bail.
