The Environment and Land Court in Meru has temporarily halted the construction of a State House lodge, airstrip and golf course within Imenti Forest.
In orders issued on June 23, Justice Oguttu Mboya directed that no activities, including land excision, allocation, surveying, leasing, clearing or construction, should be undertaken in any part of the forest until a petition before the court is heard and determined.
The conservatory orders, contained in court documents, were issued after the matter was certified as urgent.
The court also set timelines for parties to file responses and scheduled a mention of the case on June 30 for further directions.
“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of this Application, a temporary conservatory order and injunction shall be issued restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, employees, contractors or any other person acting under their authority, from exercising, allocating, alienating, surveying, leasing, licensing, clearing, constructing upon, developing or otherwise interfering with any portion of Imenti Forest for purposes of constructing or facilitating an airstrip, State Lodge, golf course or related facilities,” the court order stated.
The respondents have also been directed to file and disclose within 14 days all records linked to the proposed development.
These include approvals, Environmental Impact Assessment reports, licences, permits, maps, acreage surveys, feasibility studies, public participation records and any agreements related to the project.
Additionally, the court authorised the petitioners, or experts appointed by the court, to inspect the affected sections of Imenti Forest and prepare a status report.
The orders further require that the current state of the forest be maintained, effectively stopping any ongoing or planned developments until the case is fully heard and determined.
Court documents indicate that the Meru County Government, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and three other entities have been named as respondents in the matter.
Earlier this month, the Green Belt Movement opposed the plans, citing reports that the Forestry Principal Secretary, the Meru Governor and KFS officials had visited a section of the forest known as Kambakia Forest.
The environmental lobby group also expressed concern over proposed changes to Section 56(2) of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, arguing that the amendments would give KFS broader authority to approve the use of public forests for public utility projects.
