The Environment and Land Court in Meru has issued a third conservatory order stopping the planned excision of Imenti forest for the construction of a State Lodge, golf course and airstrip, pending further directions in petitions challenging the project.
Justice Oguttu Mboya issued the order in a petition filed by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance and the Meru Forest Conservation Forum, which are contesting the removal of part of the forest for the proposed development.
The court also extended conservatory orders issued on June 10 until tomorrow, when it is expected to consider whether three related petitions should be consolidated and heard together.
The orders temporarily bar any action that would interfere with the forest area at the centre of the dispute until the court gives further directions.
The petitioners are seeking to stop the excision, arguing that the planned project raises environmental and conservation concerns.
Imenti forest is one of the key forest ecosystems in Meru County and forms part of Kenya’s broader natural heritage.
A conservatory order is a temporary court directive issued to preserve the subject of a dispute until the matter is fully heard or until the court gives further instructions. In this case, the order keeps the contested forest land intact as the legal process continues.
Justice Mboya’s latest decision marks the third time the court has intervened to stop action on the proposed excision, underlining the seriousness of the dispute and the need to determine the issues raised before any development proceeds.
The proposed construction of a State Lodge, golf course and airstrip has drawn legal scrutiny because it involves forest land, a sensitive environmental resource. The case is likely to test the balance between public infrastructure development and environmental protection.
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance and the Meru Forest Conservation Forum have moved to court to challenge the process and legality of the excision. They want the court to protect the forest from any alteration until the petitions are heard and determined.
The matter will return to court tomorrow, when Justice Mboya is expected to consider whether the three petitions should be merged into one case. Consolidation would allow the court to deal with similar issues together, helping avoid conflicting decisions and repetition.
For now, the court orders remain in force, meaning no excision or development works should proceed on the disputed section of Imenti Forest.
The case will be closely watched by environmental groups, local communities and state agencies, as it touches on forest conservation, land use and public development priorities in Kenya.
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