( CNN ) -- Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki set five tons of elephant tusks and ivory carvings ablaze Wednesday in the first national celebration of African Elephant Law Enforcement Day . The president burned 335 elephant tusks and more than 40,000 ivory carvings , which were seized from smugglers in Singapore , according to a news statement by the Kenya Wildlife Service . According to the agency , 187 Kenyan elephants were illegally killed in 2010 . Kibaki said he wants his country to be at the forefront of wildlife conservation . `` Through the disposal of contraband ivory , we seek to formally demonstrate to the world our determination to eliminate all forms of illegal trade in ivory , '' Kibaki said . Hundreds of conservationists traveled to the country to highlight the ongoing fight against wildlife crimes , the statement said . The event marked the culmination of a week of conservation-themed celebrations that included the launch of a new African wildlife monitoring system . Noah Wekesa , Kenya 's minister for forestry and wildlife , said the country is also finalizing a bill that will severely penalize poachers to ensure illegal wildlife trade has no `` haven within our region . '' In May , Kenyan officials seized 115 pieces of ivory disguised as diplomatic baggage at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport . Kibaki said countries need to understand the effects illegal trade has on national economies . `` We can not afford to sit back and allow criminal networks to destroy our common future , '' he said .
More than 40,000 ivory pieces and 300 elephant tusks are burned . The Kenyan president says he wants to punish thieves . A bill will be finalized to punish poachers for illegal trade .