Nairobi – Kenyan poachers and dealers in illegal animal trophies now face life imprisonment and a fine of more than sh20m (about Rwf156m) under a new law meant to protect endangered wildlife like elephants and rhinos.The new law has also increased compensation for deaths and injuries caused by wildlife to sh5m and sh2m, respectively. President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act into law on Christmas eve, wildlife authorities said.They said the stiff punishments are meant to tackle the rising cases of poachers killing wildlife for tusks, horns and skins for sale in the thriving South Asia market. Weak laws have seen Kenya become a conduit for smuggling illegal animal trophies.Conservationists have previously called for stiffer penalties to tackle poaching, which has hurt the tourism industry, a top foreign exchange earner in Kenya. The country has around 40,000 elephants and 1,025 rhinos.