The Environment and Land Court in Meru has temporarily suspended the proposed construction of an airstrip, State Lodge, and golf course inside the The Star in Meru County, according to court rulings. Justice Oguttu Mboya delivered the ruling on Thursday, July 30, 2026, granting conservatory orders across five separately filed and consolidated petitions that challenge the infrastructure developments.
High Court Issues Conservatory Orders for Imenti Forest
The consolidated legal challenges were brought forward by multiple petitioners, including activist Francis Awino, lawyer Mugambi Imanyara and four others, the East African Wildlife Society, the Green Belt Movement, JustAct, and the Meru Forest Conservation Forum. According to the court, allowing the projects to proceed could fundamentally alter the environment and potentially cause irreversible harm, making it impossible to restore the forest area to its original state if the petitioners succeed.
Consolidated Petitions and Legal Grounds
The legal battles involve significant questioning over constitutional provisions, public participation, and environmental protection. Petitioners have cited Articles 10, 42, 47, 62, 69, and 70 of the Constitution, arguing that public forests are held in trust for present and future generations, which places a strict constitutional obligation on the State to conserve them. The challenges also question the constitutionality of provisions introduced through the 2025 amendment to Section 56(2) of the Forest Conservation and Management Act.
In addition to the main petitions, activist Francis Awino filed an application for contempt of court against the Attorney General, the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), the Environment Cabinet Secretary, the National Land Commission (NLC), the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Speaker of the Senate. The contempt application alleges that respondents proceeded with the airstrip project despite interim court orders previously issued on June 10. The wider list of respondents across the legal actions also includes the county government of Meru and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
During the proceedings, Justice Mboya rejected a request by the Meru County government counsel to be expunged from the petitions over an alleged misjoinder. The judge noted that documents provided by Mugambi Imanyara indicated that the devolved unit supported the projects through letters written in their favor.
Public Opposition and Government Response
The proposed state lodge, airstrip, and golf course have met substantial opposition from environmentalists and residents, who argued that proper public participation was lacking. Five members of the Imenti Development Forum previously moved to court to stop a public participation exercise due to insufficient notice. When the Kenyans.co.ke attempted to conduct a public forum for the airstrip construction, the event was disrupted by residents who heckled participants.
Prior to the ruling, the Environment Ministry and the Kenya Forest Service informed the court that the projects remained draft proposals and that they had not received official communication regarding implementation in any Meru forest. Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi stated that the government would respect the judicial process and abide by the eventual court decision, while expressing a belief that the court might eventually grant permission for the airstrip construction.
Justice Mboya has scheduled the hearing for the consolidated petition on September 28 and September 29, 2026. The contempt application filed by Mr. Awino is also scheduled for mention on September 28, 2026, with the court allowing all parties to file written submissions, responses, and further affidavits ahead of oral arguments.
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