About 120 tons of ivory will be burnt at the Nairobi National Park on April 30, the largest stockpile to be destroyed at once by any country.
This will be the climax of a summit involving heads of state, conservation experts, philanthropists and corporate leaders including Richard Branson.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will preside over the April 29-30 summit, The Star reported.
The summit at the Mount Kenya Safari Club in Laikipia aims to develop a continent-wide response to illegal-wildlife trade.
“African leaders will use the opportunity to underline the global intent to put an end, once again, to the butchering of elephants and rhinos by selfish criminal gangs,” Uhuru said in a statement on Friday.
He said it will be the first summit by the Giants Club, which he founded with the presidents of Botswana, Gabon and Uganda.
“Together we will all play our part in preserving the planet’s greatest animals.”
Environment cabinet secretary Judi Wakhungu said eight heads of state have been invited to witness the burning of the ivory, without naming names.
“They will attend to demonstrate their unity in facing the illegal poaching threat and as a fitting end to the summit’s two-day agenda,” she said.
About 100,000 elephants have been killed across Africa in the past three years.
Proceeds from the illegal trade have been used for armed conflict, terrorism and other crimes.
The Kenya Wildlife Service will burn the confiscated ivory, which will primarily include ivory seized from illegal poaching.
