On 3 October 2014, the monument was defaced with graffiti and red paint, reading "Mombasa Not 4 Ivory Export".[3][4] According to John Mbaria of the Daily Nation, activists aimed to get the government to take action against poaching rings that commonly used the Port of Mombasa as an exit point.[3] The move was denounced by Fatma Awale, Mombasa County Executive for Water and Environment, who stated that "[the county doesn't] condone the killing of elephants, but somebody should not take it upon themselves to deface county property while passing on a message".[4] In 2017, the government of the county, in partnership with Mombasa Cement Ltd, once again refurbished the tusks.[3][4] A model elephant was added to the centre of the tusks.[1]