The Land and Environment court in Meru has once again stopped the construction of an Airstrip, State lodge and Golf Course in Imenti forest after a second petition was filed.
Justice Oguttu Mboya issued the interim conservatory orders following a petition filed by five Meru residents, Mugambi Imanyara, Charles Mutuma, Mwenda Kirera, Michael Koome and Douglas Mwiti.
The petitioners have sued the county government of Meru, Kenya Forest Service, Environment Cabinet Secretary, National Environment Management Authority and the Attorney General.
“In the meantime, and taking into account the provisions of Articles 69 and 159[2][b] of the Constitution, 2010; and bearing in mind the likely consequences of the intended project, there be and is hereby granted an Interim Conservatory Order in terms of prayer two of the application pending the return date or until further orders of the Court.” Justice Mboya ordered.
The matter is slated for mention on June 30, 2026.
The petitioners argue that the proposed development threatens a gazetted public forest which serves as a critical water catchment area, biodiversity habitat and environmental resource for the people of Meru County and Kenya at large.
“The Respondents have failed to disclose Environmental Impact Assessment reports, feasibility studies, approvals, maps, acreage surveys and other statutory documents relating to the project. The proposed development threatens to cause irreversible environmental degradation and destruction of forest resources.” The petitioners told the court.
Even as the orders were issued Forestry Principal Secretary Gitonga Mugambi maintained that the airstrip project was meant to protect the Mt Kenya forest.
Speaking during the Meru University of Science and Technology Innovation Conference, Mr Mugambi said the airstrip is meant to facilitate surveillance of the expansive Mt Kenya forest.
“The Mt Kenya forest covers 600,000 acres and some of it has been destroyed. We have even noted bhang growing in Tharaka Nithi area. We cannot know what is happening in the forest because we do not have aerial surveillance. I have been accused of destroying the forest but what we are doing is setting up a KFS operation base to strengthen surveillance and monitoring,” he said.
Mr Mugambi told off those opposed to the ongoing airstrip project saying; “Most those opposed are in the forefront of destroying the forest. We want to start flying and stop them.”
He added that the Airstrip will be used for launching surveillance drones and aircrafts for aerial reseeding with seed balls.
The PS defended the decision to set up an airstrip in the forest saying “the eight acres will help save the 600,000-acre forest.
Mr Mugambi lamented that Kenyans were too litigious, noting that efforts by his department to revive Panpaper Mills “were stalled by 15 court orders”.
